By Kaaya Shilia
AICC-ARUSHA
kaayashilia@hotmail.com

Memories of childhood

From fussy myopic images
Of glorified gigantic structures
With spoons so big and heavy!
Daddy and mom ultimate fences
As secure as anything even
In the den of death, danger looming

With river gorges deep and terrifying
The sky spackling with stars
God seated on the shaded moon
With eyes rolling out and fearful
Don't you ever swear in God's name!

The stories, the stories! Fairy tales
Our Maasai Uncle from Ngorongoro
Out in the run from famine
With flocks of cattle, sheep and goats
His donkeys cracking dry studs
With us kids seated on the dust
Listening but trembling with fear

Coming of age a nightmare
Story telling a merry wish
Swearing in God's name the trick
As fairy tales forbade
Wish one would remain a baby
Sucking on a finger with fantasies
With illusions of mighty daddies