Meja, I just wanted to call you before I went to bed
Kukujulia hali[1], What are you doing now?
Homework? Kazana daddy, kazana[2]. One day
things will be fine God-willing and who knows
“Meja ona[3], I made a sink
You know we are not sure what can happen
I’m glad the school allowed you to stay
Huku huwezi kuja[4]. It’s not safe.
They said on the news that only cargo planes are being allowed;
No passenger planes.
Meja ona, I made a face mask from dried wet tissues
Nikaziconnect na bladder
Ona niko hadi na hand sanitizer
You know I handle cash all day so I need to be extra careful
You’ve found me free, I’m normally busy at this time
Ni venye hakuna biashara[5]
How’s school? Oh, I thank God
you are quarantined with your friends
so it’s not very boring
Say hi to them all. And I pray for you all.
Are you cooking at midnight?
Oh, I see, It’s six pm there
The food looks good, much like what I had for dinner too
- potatoes and maize mukimo[6]
- cabbage and carrots
- meat
Meja, read this policeman’s prayer, I love it,
Give me Lord, concern for other’s who trust me
and compassion for those who need me
Oh yes, if only they actually prayed it,
they were beating people up because the
president imposed the curfew. But God will guide them.
Haha, I watched the video you sent me
It’s so true, Luo’s will name their children: Quarantine Omollo
Sanitizer Otieno, Covid Nkube, Mask Mugati, Isolation Sibanda,
You know these names are strange to us, we never use them
You know the other day a woman came and asked me if I had
“Zanditiner”. It took me a moment to figure out she was saying:
Sanitizer.
**
I know it’s tough, usichoke.
Keep pushing through…I believe the future
awaiting us is bright if u persevere.
**
Meja ulisema uko wapi US[7]?
A friend of mine told me there are now
more cases there than in Italy
Did you check on Citz? She lives in Italy, no?
Thank God she’s safe. God will see us through.
Ni ukweli wanateswa Chaina[8]
I watched on the news that they are sleeping outside
They can’t even get into their homes
Na huku watu wamechoma maduka zao[9]
Let’s just pray for the whole world
Stay safe and take care. I love you. Bye”
[1] To know how you are doing
[2] Try your best daddy, keep struggling
[3] Swahili for ‘see’
[4] You can’t come here
[5] It’s because there’s no business
[6] Kenyan meal made by smashing potatoes and vegetables. May also include maize and beans.
[7] Where in the US did you say you are?
[8] It’s true they are being discriminated against in China
[9] And here people have burned down their shops
Leave a Reply