DRUMS OF WAR

I hear you beat the drums of war,

Because you do not know the scent of death.

You have not felt it reek around you,

You have not felt it flare in your nose,

You have not felt it take your lungs

Until you cannot expel it.

I hear you beat the drums of war,

I hear you hum and chant and roar,

Because you do not understand the cost,

See make all you had, lost

Your homes go up in smoke

Your monuments turned to rubble

I hear you beat the drums of war,

] because you have known peace,

You are tired of the light,

And wish to tempt the night

You think it a passing fad

You think it will make you glad.

I hear you beat the drums of war,

I hear you sing chant and roar

And hope they are not heard,

For war is a welcome guest

Until it cannot be had,

And you can no longer rest

I hear you beat the drums of war,

And ignore all that implore

You daughters it will gnaw

Your lands it will scorch.

You it will split to bits

I implore you now,

 The drums…

Beat them no more

FRIDAY NIGHT LIFE

            Friday night in Nairobi city. Another weekend to try and let loose and forget your problems. Like the rest of the world, everyone hits the pubs and the clubs. Friends meet to catch up. Guys try to make new acquaintances {most albeit just for the night}. Girls, well, they have their girls’ night out. And for the final group, mostly parents and non-party goers, just go home shut their eyes and ears to the world while relaxing and rejuvenating for the next week.

            The hustle and bustle on Friday evenings is not to get home like on most other days, but to get to the “joints” they consider fun. Streets are a buzz with excitement as youth criss-cross to their favorite joints. Music from the clubs reaches your ears as you strut down the street. Matatus playing the latest hit songs as they ferry excited passengers to their desired locations. Individuals in personal vehicles playing dj mixes to compete with matatus as they Cruz to the clubs.

            At the pubs, men come from work/study places giving each other hearty greetings and order their beverages. They engage in story telling about the events of the past week. Some of them so fantastically formulated you listen to it till it conclusion, even though you know it’s false. This is because the stories a told with such gusto the keep pulling you in, no matter how weighed down your mind was. Their best topics; soccer debates, politics and the most high-ranking, women, among other topics. You’re bound to hear guffaw laughter at intervals in their discussions.  The joy of the weekend release.

            At the clubs, youth and teenagers will be dancing on the floor. Girls in their mini-skirts and stylish dressing will be giving shrill laughter and giggle excitedly. Most of them whispering in conspiratory tones on how best to dismiss or bring on an approaching boy. Waiters constantly rushing by to deliver orders that seem almost to be overwhelming them. Muscular, mostly untrained brutes, bouncers stand at strategic locations, with the hope of deterring trouble from any drunk or rowdy individuals in attendance.

             Not so far outside this clubs will be twilight girls skulking in the dark to avoid the police. A good number of the wearing a bit too much make-up making them more horrendous than attractive. Only the desperate ones will call out at the people walking by though most of them target those who will drive by. In the later hours of the night they are joined by corrupt police officers who hope to scare a bribe from party goers. With them are muggers targeting single people or the extremely drank.

            Back inside the clubs, night life will be at it peak. The dance floor will be crowded and groups mingled.{ most boys and girls will be in pairs.} fewer drinks are ordered since most partygoers are paying attention to the music. Relief for the waiters, who go around, serve the occasional customer as they attempt to clear the tables. This time the bouncers have to be alert for pick pockets and sporadic fights as well as unruly customers. The rest of the city is for all intensive purposes asleep.

            As the night slips by and morning encroaches the dance-floor begins to clear. Most pubs are already closed by now. In the clubs, partiers go to the seats and call for their last rounds. Some go hoping into other clubs  while others, those brave enough or from safe neighborhoods, head home. A few head to the restaurants for early breakfast and head home before daybreak. Avoiding the walk of shame as it is known. The exhilaration has faded away but you are bound to have memories hat will last a lifetime.

 The Nairobi night life is intriguing entertaining and thrilling. Almost as good as Mombasa’s night life.