Since I've found my heaven on earth i.e. the local library, I've been reacquainted with my love for reading and as a result my fondness for writing has been rekindled. I was moved by a collection of 18th/19th century letters that literary people and slaves who were torn apart from their loved ones wrote to each other. It's amazing how technology has evolved and correspondence is much more instant nowadays but the decline of letter writing has somewhat removed the emotional effort that goes into human correspondence.
Though I'm not necessarily writing a collection emotional letters, I am however dabbling with my book again, which has been abandoned for donkeys'!
The poem below is a prelude to the first chapter, where the protagonist goes back to Africa to trace her East African roots. You might notice she has lost her mother...
'Hooyo'
As I close my eyes allowing memories of old to bring forth your presence
a euphoric feeling absorbs my soul
Your name is signed across my heart
Mother, my gracious mother
Your beauty is unforgettable
Your spirit is entwined with mine guiding me as I trace back to our native soil
I can smell her essence
Like a spread of pollen on a summer breeze
exhaling the fragrance of joy to the world
I can feel your hand holding my hand leading me to her warm embrace
She will welcome me with songs of praise and I will dance to the rhythms of Dhanto and Goobilo
We will enjoy feasts of fine rice and anjelo with delicious meat together
Somalia rejoices in my arrival like how you rejoiced in her arrival
I can hear you calling mother
Through her we shall be together once more
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