Feb 2014
Alexander K Opicho
(Eldoret, Kenya;aopicho@yahoo.com)
In the wee hour of the African night
When the light from the full moon
Shone brightly clear on each creature
Even the scorpions, making them visible
As Africa is more near to the moon
Than any other planet of the universe,
I was outside in the cold night shivering under the eaves
Anxiously leaning on the wall of a ruffian thatched hut
Music blowing cacophonously from inside the hut
From which the village disco dance was taking place
In the obvious ceremony in punctuation of elder’s burial,
Congolese music was blowing to apex of its might
As foot-falls of dancers sounded up to where I was
As the disco orchestra hailed the son of the chief
For artful holding of the female dance partner
in majestic tune with the romantic song
Pangs of jealousy terribly burned my chest
I mused the warmth which the chief’s son was enjoying,
I began walking away towards my home; against all odds
As my home was in another village across the river,
Hyenas are all over the way, but I did not fear
My fear was the infamous Night-runner; Muyomo Omutabani,
He is famed to be a terrible wizard of the foul,
But I rationalized it away that; I’m a man and I will die once
I kept on walking and walking, nearing the river
At which the sound of croaking marshland land frogs got high and high
This informed me that the river terrain is save, no impending danger
I crossed safely on a log of wood lying across the river banks,
From no where, I saw a blurred stall of dry banana leaves at my side
Numerous black cats surrounded the stall, all moving in a cheeky style
The stall also yelled shallow chicken cluck,
The scene was scary and deadly impish to my nerves
It triggered my feared, sending me a half mad with emotions
I took off on my heels, in flight with an Olympic speed
Running towards home, not knowing whether to cry or not
But I resolved not cry, just to run as I kept mum
As my crying would only rattle snakes and hyenas from their sleep,
I gazed back the stall was running after me even in a more maneuver
It is when I realized that the running battle is between me and the wizard
Muyomo Omutabani the village wizard of the foul, some times with the crow,
Diverse chicken cackles strongly chirped from the running stall behind me
Not only to mention the hell like mewing sounds of very many cats,
I ran faster than I have ever did till I got home
The running stall never got up with me
I had to run faster to safe myself from the ever nearing stall
The rumor had it that the touch of Muyomo would make one sterile,
So I ran and ran to safe myself from the curse of ****** impotence,
But I was not lucky neither was I better
New version of fate was waiting for me in my own cottage,
Which I came face to face with in a stark countenance
After I had kicked open the metallic door of my cottage,
That I quickly had to shut for me to curtail my pursuers out,
I wanted to jump into my blanket for total safety
My blankets made of sisal fabrics,
But moonlight coming in on to my bed
Through a hole in the ruffian roof held me back
It was shinning on the ball of coils of something black and glittering,
It was the largest snake that I have ever seen in my experience
It was at on my bed; at the middle of the bed!
Waning sounds of the mewing cats were still faintly heard
From outside my cottage which I had shut myself in
I was divided mentally with no name to label my situation,
Please you name it.
(Eldoret, Kenya;aopicho@yahoo.com)
In the wee hour of the African night
When the light from the full moon
Shone brightly clear on each creature
Even the scorpions, making them visible
As Africa is more near to the moon
Than any other planet of the universe,
I was outside in the cold night shivering under the eaves
Anxiously leaning on the wall of a ruffian thatched hut
Music blowing cacophonously from inside the hut
From which the village disco dance was taking place
In the obvious ceremony in punctuation of elder’s burial,
Congolese music was blowing to apex of its might
As foot-falls of dancers sounded up to where I was
As the disco orchestra hailed the son of the chief
For artful holding of the female dance partner
in majestic tune with the romantic song
Pangs of jealousy terribly burned my chest
I mused the warmth which the chief’s son was enjoying,
I began walking away towards my home; against all odds
As my home was in another village across the river,
Hyenas are all over the way, but I did not fear
My fear was the infamous Night-runner; Muyomo Omutabani,
He is famed to be a terrible wizard of the foul,
But I rationalized it away that; I’m a man and I will die once
I kept on walking and walking, nearing the river
At which the sound of croaking marshland land frogs got high and high
This informed me that the river terrain is save, no impending danger
I crossed safely on a log of wood lying across the river banks,
From no where, I saw a blurred stall of dry banana leaves at my side
Numerous black cats surrounded the stall, all moving in a cheeky style
The stall also yelled shallow chicken cluck,
The scene was scary and deadly impish to my nerves
It triggered my feared, sending me a half mad with emotions
I took off on my heels, in flight with an Olympic speed
Running towards home, not knowing whether to cry or not
But I resolved not cry, just to run as I kept mum
As my crying would only rattle snakes and hyenas from their sleep,
I gazed back the stall was running after me even in a more maneuver
It is when I realized that the running battle is between me and the wizard
Muyomo Omutabani the village wizard of the foul, some times with the crow,
Diverse chicken cackles strongly chirped from the running stall behind me
Not only to mention the hell like mewing sounds of very many cats,
I ran faster than I have ever did till I got home
The running stall never got up with me
I had to run faster to safe myself from the ever nearing stall
The rumor had it that the touch of Muyomo would make one sterile,
So I ran and ran to safe myself from the curse of ****** impotence,
But I was not lucky neither was I better
New version of fate was waiting for me in my own cottage,
Which I came face to face with in a stark countenance
After I had kicked open the metallic door of my cottage,
That I quickly had to shut for me to curtail my pursuers out,
I wanted to jump into my blanket for total safety
My blankets made of sisal fabrics,
But moonlight coming in on to my bed
Through a hole in the ruffian roof held me back
It was shinning on the ball of coils of something black and glittering,
It was the largest snake that I have ever seen in my experience
It was at on my bed; at the middle of the bed!
Waning sounds of the mewing cats were still faintly heard
From outside my cottage which I had shut myself in
I was divided mentally with no name to label my situation,
Please you name it.
