I left Mombasa , island of raha (happiness),
To emigrate to England , land of opportunity.

Forsook the tropical sun
For cold frigid weather.

Left behind the warm ocean breeze
For the wind-chill of winter.

Abandoned white pristine beaches
For brown muddy shores.

Turned away from a turquoise ocean
For polluted lakes.

Gave up mangoes, papaya, mabuyu, achari and sunflower
For processed apples, pears, peaches and cherries.

Gave up white snapper and king fish
For boxed cod and sole.

Gave up mishkaki, nyama choma maambri and bharazi
For cereal, bagels, cheese, and salads

Gave up drinking coconut water straight from the coconut
And settled for bottled water..

Left behind the street coffee seller (Kahava)
For the office coffee pot..

Left behind the exotic fragrance of phapa and langi langi
For the pungent smell of sulfuric emissions.

Deprived of hearing the call to prayer
For the sound of police and fire sirens.

Deprived of seeing women clad in mysterious black buibui
For women dressed in jeans and miniskirts.

Deserted a slow relaxed pace of life
For the fast lane.

Gave up afternoon naps
For gym workouts.

Gave up riding a bicycle through the narrow streets
For driving a car on the highways.

Discontinued a course on the coral marine life
For a course in stress management.

Discarded mud and thatched dwellings
For concrete and steel.

Left behind a community-based life
For a human zoo.

It makes me wonder
If I have also left my soul behind in Mombasa ?

Mr. Reishi Arun Parikh

Proprietor

YARIS DATA SYSTEMS
K. T. PLAZA – HAILE SELASSIE AVENUE.
2ND Floor, Office No. 1.
opp. TUSKYS BANDARI, above AUTOSELECTION
Computer Training, Solutions & Repairs Centre.

P. O. Box 80518 Post Code – 80100, Mombasa, Kenya.
Tel: +254 41 222 8172, Tel: +254 41 2313 984
Fax: +254 41 2315 995
Web: www.yarisdata.com Email: yaris@africaonline.co.ke