My Grandmother's Diary

Cucu, maitu Now that am older I seek more answers In the same manner I did Those days gone, of fetching firewood to cook a cherished meal I seek more answers Not in the manner I did Fetching sticks in the forest to be used by teachers for spanking and whipping Oh how I dreaded those days, those chilling days of punishments for poor grades, tardiness and noise making And there my hate for math began....fearing it even to this day that math teacher that came drunk to class and we mostly got beatings for nothing I seek answers to understand our family dynamics Interesting, odd, sad, puzzling, beautiful, worrying, entertaining, Is some of the descriptions The reason we are the way we are The beings we become in unexpected fate Cucu, maitu I've heard your many stories of "emergency" during the colonial rule I've seen your youthful strength that grows more beautiful with aging days You always say "it's the Lord" I remember how when we were little you always got us to wash our feet before getting on your bed How you then proceeded to pray for your ten children, your many grand children and your ever increasing great grandchildren Telling God each of their names My sisters and I always thought you said some of the longest prayers But now that am older I know why The number of family members I have to pray for increases with new age Like the last video i took of you singing and dancing with some of your great grandchildren, The melody of my life becomes more fruitful with each new beat Cucu, maitu (kikuyu words for grandmother)