Richard Curtis in Kenya

What follows is a series of Haiku by Richard Curtis who is traveling in Kenya. He is recording the traditional song and stories of the Masaai people and sharing some of his own vocal improvisation performance art with them. Continue to watch this blog for further updates and poetry by Richard.

Postcard 1:
Haikus for Kenya

TRAVELING:
sunrise over Baghdad
sipping tea and milk
the Qu'ran in my headphones

mid day nap
woke up at two in the morning
the day was gone

NAIROBI:
the owners of roadside stands
peanuts corn and bananas
are all hungry-eyed

luggage finally arrives
three days lost
wearing a new shirt

paid a young boy
to guard the car
the engine starts

hand-built cart hauling
sacks of potatoes
cars swerving past

big grey bird
standing on the roof
laughing me awake

petting the docile cheetah
with long slow purrs
blood from its ear paints my hand

bathing from a bucket
boiled water too hot
morning air too crisp

hand-washed clothes
hang stiff on the line
with Orion's belt

DOL DOL:
crossing the equator
bundled in a sweater
the mountain breezes

my hat is
allowing Kenya
to re-shape it

baboons crossing the road
with a honk they face
my direction


Richard Curtis - June 2005