The Last Time I Saw You

The last time I saw you

The last time I saw you

When we met at the Orientation

Wearing that cosmetic smile

Stuttering hypertech up-to-date slang

The last time I saw you

When we bumped on each other in the café

The only time I took my meal in there

And I didn’t finish it all nor licked the sides [of the plate]

The last time I saw you

We met at the first church service at college

And were brothers and sisters in Christ

One in the universal family of God

The last time I saw you

When the winds of destiny drew us close

When we coincidentally met again and spoke

At the ritualistic yearly ‘welcoming function’ initiation

The last time I saw you

When we were dancing and cheering

Fighting for accommodation freedom

Chanting, mukanva hii hooo a Dean athawa

The last time I saw you

We walked past the hostels together

To the library at six

And group discussions at ten

The last time I saw you

We were studying together

Overnight overtime trans-mbembembe

Breaking for coffee before morning classes

The last time I saw you

We trod together the exam room

Walking tall and brave

Trusting the stick of memory

The last time I saw you

When we walked out all happy

The exams over and luggage all packed

Awaiting some free adventurous ride home

The last time I saw you

When we hugged joked and laughed

With a pat on back and best wishes

With a handshake and verbal goodbye

The last time I saw you

I remembered the phrase, tipange zimenezi osaopa

As the automobile that carried you drove past

Through the gate away and off the campus

Till distance separated us

Airtel and tnm were the only means

And were left with nothing but memories

Of the last time I saw you

-by PAtrick K LAmba [pakla]