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Teacups

Written by Neema Ngwatilo

Sunday, 07 September 2008

Eleven years old and accustomed to seeing
the Jacaranda trees carpet the hill-side
with their lavender flowers, loving them even
when they wilted and returned to dirt; I still hoped

Dad would put colored lights on the twenty
foot cypress tree outside at Christmas, utterly
disregarding its browning diseased needles
and his fragility, to believe we will be back soon

in a year or two. And the church bells appealing
to the city on Sunday Mornings, the rock
I crashed into when I beat Michael bike riding,
how the letters stopped dancing long enough

so I could sense them that first time I read The Lion,
the Witch, and the Wardrobe; these memories
I store away in the "When there was Home" folder,
as I help Mummy wrap the teacups in old newspaper.

_____________________

Neema Ngwatilo
		About the author:
		Neema Ngwatilo is a Kenyan writer and poet. She publishes online at the Ngwatilo blog and is Editor of ImagineCulture.

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IN LOVE
written by PYXIS , September 08, 2008

When i read this piece, I fell in love with the style employed in entwining the past and present of the persona. Rarely does a poet succeed in this approach with such ease. You've in my opinion, succeded in incorporating the reader in the story cum poem, thus seeing what you saw and see. I love this piece and look forward to reading more of yours

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POIGNAT PIECE
written by Aromo , September 10, 2008

Poignat.Deeply so.I have been transported into a new world, and into the emotions of this little girl with such speed and accuracy,that am left breathless.Thank you.

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