On the dry coastal plains
A boy runs after his herd of goats
On the very paths where ages past
Clanking of resounding chains could be heard
From the banks of the Indian Ocean
To the plains of the Tsavo
When folks at muzzle point approached the shore
With misty eyes and bound limbs
Leaving behind blood stained corals
From backs torn and weary of lashes
And bare soles struck on rocks
What weeping and wailing
As defiant men flunged themselves into the waters
How many mothers wept for their dead children
Their arms raised to the skies
As the sails disappeared
Into the edge of the sounding sea
And in the terror of those decks
All were brothers in pain
Let my dreadlocks touch the soft of my lower back
And no blade ever know the rugged of my cheeks
For I am paying tribute to heroes
Who braved the cold of the forest’s heart
Whose blood from the river source did flow
Down to unite the highlands, lakes and plains
And from their unity and noble sacrifice
A republic was born.
And all were brothers in Glory
From the sweaty breakers of rock
To the muddy tenders of crop
From the noisy traders of it
To the smelly scrappers of fish
And the sap coloured palms of the tea picker
Around the table of God like lambs rejoiced
And commenced the breaking of bread.
If our forefathers could see you now
Your faces beaming with greed
Alienating fellow countrymen
For the language of their tongue
And places of their birth
Your greasy indifferent hands
Locking out alm seekers in the cold
If our sold ancestors could see you now
In their graves of ocean beds
The wave crests would touch the sky
As they would turn in violent anger
For you have failed to learn from their pain
If our freedom heroes could see you now
From the stomach of the highlands
Mount Kenya would break with a noise like thunder
For you, destructive fat warms
Have bored the fruits of their glory
Brothers, so man and man should be
We differ in life
But in dust all alike
And so shade him from the sun
Embrace the dirt of his rugged shirt
Stroke his dusty hair
And on your knees upon our Father’s feet
Together in peace adore
And dance around the tent of God
Like calves rejoice
This is a summon
An imperative
If you will worship
War no more.
