146.
Because Binyavanga Wainaina asked: “where were we when the beautiful Moses Taiwa Molelekwa died?”
trees line the street like widows waiting for a coffin
where were we when mokolekwa died?
i might have been painting likely not
i might have been loving or cracking hearts for dinner
i might have been walking home or stuck in traffic
or on the bus
or waiting for time
or waiting for time
mokelekwa was dying
mokelekwa was dead
the boulevard remains lined
trees like widows waiting for the body
where were we when molelekwa was dying?
i might have been doing dishes complaining
loving life or hating everything
mololekwa was dying he was dead
where were we?
where were we?
Where were we
when molelekwa was dying?
With their straight backed trunks
dignified trees still line the street
the coffin is on the way
147.
brother, we listened to you full of life
drank in your music as i marked papers
felt that much
that much
that much kinder, lighter
more alive
where was i when molelekwa died?
where was i split apart by his notes
remember
remember, damn it
remember
148.
i want you back but i have to contend
i want you back even as i have you
i have your music
i have your smile i have your words
still
i want you back i never had you
i want you back i won’t ever have the music
that died with you
where was i when molelekwa died?
149.
The trees are still in lines
that insist beyond the boulevards
we were waiting even when we didn’t know
we couldn’t have known
we were waiting a decade
before piano tickles & after
before trumpet blows & after
before we understood that the horns
would precede your last walk home
150.
where were we when molelekwa died?
the children were little still precious then
the children were incessant still dependant
i longed for music
i longed for you, molelekwa
not knowing & not knowing
on the way home
on the bus
in traffic
longing for this music
longing for this jazz
painting
or not painting
complaining all the time
longing longing
& still longing
other widows line the street
the way they always do
they wait backs straight heads bowed
to receive molelekwa & his love
Juliane Okot Bitek 