A Chant of Riddles

My eyes saw a riddle in the world. Mother Earth paints the world with blue of summer skies red of autumn leaves green of budding plants brown of humid soil gold of desert sands white of polar ice O Mother - paint for me the world anew. My ears heard a riddle in the air. Brother Wind sings the world of rustle in tree-tops high whistle of birds on wing scrabble of underground moles swish of the waves on the shore laughter of children at play rumble of thunder-clouds black O Brother sing for me the world alive. My nose smelt a riddle in the air. Sister Breeze wafts the world with roses fresh with dew babies warm from baths bread just newly baked earth thats moist with rain grass thats newly cut laundry freshly dried O Sister help me smell the world afresh. My face felt a riddle in the day. Father Sun warms the world and lovers frolic in the sea kittens play with string plants unfurl their leaves hearts are filled with joy despair and anguish fade hope is born anew O Father warm my world once more. My heart felt a riddle in the night. Moon-that-is me looks down and cannot see the paint cannot hear the song cannot smell the world cannot feel the warmth sees shadows all around sees beauty in the dark O Me accept my whole world now. Christine Mbugua December 2006