By Anthony Muchoki
A mugumo tree has fallen
A tree of life and love
Wanjiru wa Bethuel
Wanjiru wa Njuguna
A rare gem of a woman
A soul so beautiful
So benevolent
With a humble heart
Full of goodness
Yet queenly all her life
It was daylight Thika
January 8, 2019
Grandma talking
To her two daughters
(Also grandmothers)
Hospital room
Full of peace and love
Then a silent explosion
In a salient mili-moment
Love Grandma Wanjiru gone
It was phantasmagorical
We had to eat the hard truth
Our love Cucu was no more
Silently but peacefully
Amidst the light of life, unknown
Amidst all our tears
At 106 years, life is a bliss
But questions still linger
Is death part of life
Or life part of death
Each second matter, the years
The pain stands, it lingers
Stings like a thousand bees
Right in the eyes and ears
Time heals not, never
When a parent passes on
Time just bears acceptance
Are we not all born of soil?
Back back to the soil to rest
The fate of Mumbi and Adam
What matters in life?
Despite so many thorns of life
The good that we commit
The deeds that beyond us
The eucomis, love, smiles
Matters most when life closes
In growing her woodland
Grandma would say
Patience is everything
Love, work, pray in patience
Ever seen a beautiful soul, a kind heart
Ever seen a woman of faith and prayer
Ever seen a queen never proclaimed
Talk of Wanjiru wa Njuguna
Cucu made real
The meaning of the word grandma of inspiration
Her poem will live on earth for ages
And prayerfully,
Her soul rests in the hands of the power of providence
*Tribute to Cecilia Wanjiru Njuguna, who passed away 08/01/2019 at 106 years.