Cease Fire Poem by Wafula p'Khisa

after this we could sing only one song: cease fire
as fiery tongues open fresh wounds of hatred in our hearts
we'd have moved many worlds beyond
and the desperate longing for home marred by poignant memories.

nobody will show their milk teeth then.

our children will scream their lungs out
and women preyed on in dark alleys & corridors.
our men will be on holiday- swimming in cool waters of the southern seas
or signing power-sharing deals in Serena...

BUT you've invited them to your dance,
watched them steal your song
and kill its soulful tune!

you've bent low- shaking your bottoms to follow their dance
cheered, booed and threw stones
and torn each other over little nothings...