CHARLES THE SERIOUS

Charles was a serious Kenyan
he was not intentionally bad
neither was he necessarily good
of course he loved his beer at Rhoda's place
but he would never turn away a beggar at his door
he never bothered with friendships
so he made no enemies
ten shoes he had
strenously collected from the markets of Gikomba
to suit the styles of Milan's spring collections
one of them he called a camper
though it had been nibbled by a mouse
another he called a loafer
though it closely resembled a small shovel
his head he scratched
to keep plans awake
his eyes visions they bore
to make him blind to all around
that he crossed Haile Selassie without looking
and a matatu slammed into him
leaving behind a Charles The Serious Kenyan stain on the road

Love as Long as You Can

Oh love, as long as day may dawn,
The hour will come,
You will stand beside a grave , and mourn
Whoever gives his heart to you
Oh, show him all the love you own,
And fill his waking hours with joy,
And never make him feel alone.
And watch your tongue as best you can -
A wicked word is quickly spoken.
"Oh, god, I didn't mean it so!"
The other goes away, Heart-broken,
Then you kneel down beside the grave
And say: 'Look at the woman who
Is weeping here to see you go!
Forgive me, please, for hurting you!
Oh, god, I didn't mean it so!'
But he can't see and he can't hear you,
He can't be welcomed back, somehow.
The mouth that kissed you oft before
Can't say that all's forgiven now...
He did forgive you, long ago,
But many hot tears fell, my friend.
About you and your bitter word...
Oh, he's at rest, he's reached the end!