An Open Letter To A Kenyan My Valentine, Dated 14th February 2008 Poem by Affiah Odhiambo

Dear Beloved,
It is with utter urgency and solid sadness that I write you this letter. What happened to us my love? We used to be happy you and I. They all envied us: our friends, our neighbors, the foreign forces.

My love, do you remember all those holidays we treasured so? How we hypnotized them into opportunities? Opportunities to celebrate each other; to renew our vows, to remind the world of our bond, our union, our love. Be it Madaraka day, Labor day, Jamuhuri day, Kenyatta day, Moi day; we painted the towns red, white, black, green, the sacred colors of our rainbow.

Look at us now my love; how did we get here? Can you help me understand how, with no mercy, you have roughened me up! Cutting me into pieces; I am soaking in blood; I am chocking in smoke; smoke from all these fires, these fires you've lit! Fires of hate, fires of greed, fires of hypocrisy, tribalism, revenge; fires of death!

Every fire now raging with lessons; lessons of loss, lessons of love, lessons for life, lessons we must take. Anything else that is flirting with bitterness, befriending indifference, tolerating intolerance, all these we must forget; promising, preaching, praying, "Never Again".

On this note my love, I need to conclude this letter, reminding you of that song, that love song you composed for me that day, the day we consummated our love,45 years ago. "Oh God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, "You know the words my love, a prayer indeed. Each word a kiss to my nature, each line a hug to my hope, each stanza rekindling my spirit. When will you sing this song to me again my love? When will you say this prayer for me again, my love?

I have to leave now beloved, but with a prayer of my own; my dear Kenyan please, make light your heart. Give us another chance, for who else do you have but me?

Yours in waiting,
Always Kenya, Your country
Your valentine