The Silent Village

The Silent Village In a silent, cool and quiet village I used to stay Life was sweet, enjoyable and never in a hurry Taking animals to graze, playing with other kids and swimming daily Walking by clean and silent rivers where water was flowing freely But if one doesn’t complete duties and chores, parents punished us dearly Those days, life in that village was not only good, but also enjoyable Schools were miles away, but we were never late We wore no shoes, blazers and modern bags, but we looked great In that village the dress code was simple but everybody was neat Mothers bought cheap “mtumba” clothes in the nearest market Men going to hunt and slaughter animals to balance the diet Shopping list was a self-composed song to the shop when a child was sent Those days life in that village was not only good, but also enjoyable Everything was communal and batter trade was the affair Cases of incitement, corruption and theft were not there Discipline and correction of children was a community affair To correct and punish any wrong child, every parent could dare Scent of traditional food, honey and wild fruits used to fill the air Those days life in that village was not only good, but also enjoyable Sadly I sit today, I watch the world escalating Skyscrapers mushrooming where the silent village used to be lying Digital marketing replacing the sweet batter trading Gated communities, where children do not know those neighboring Good morals and behaviors in young ones diminishing Pollution everywhere and Mother Nature wailing Those days life in that village was not only good, but also enjoyable (By Waweru Ngugi)