I Remember... Poem by DEDAN ONYANGO

I REMEMBER…

I remember the two
The two zeros
And the ugly seven.

I remember the two
The two zeros
And the two headed eight.

I remember,2007
I remember,2008
As years that cracked my heart deep
And left a deep dent in my soul.

I remember the tears that pierced many eyes,
The tear gas that clouded the shanties in Kibera,
In Naivasha,
The lake side, the land of champions…

I remember the ghosts that tormented my country
As neighbours turned to foes
As tribes turned to trivialities
And the picture of blood bath became the reality.

I remember the looting that left nothing behind
Of Ukwala Supermaket,
Of homes and not forgetting
A neighbour's bucket.

I remember the Rungus and the Machetes
That sung throughout the horrendous night
While the National Anthem lost meaning in our hearts,
With pangs of fire we razed down each others' huts.

I remember Kiambaa church
Where innocent souls were torched
A Holy place become a hollow grave,
I remember these pictures
That mankind now forgets.

I remember
That we are all human
Deep down is blood and not a tribe
Deep down is a Kenyan and not an alien
Deep down is a soul that yearns for unity
Deep down is a creation of God.

I remember
Tomorrow the sun shall set
A new day shall erect
And we shall need each other after the elections.

I remember the two
The two zeros
And the ugly seven.

I remember the two
The two zeros
And the two headed eight.

I remember,2007
I remember,2008
As years that cracked my heart deep
And left a deep dent in my soul.