No Rest for The Wicked in Poltics

26 Dec 07

There was no Christmas for the wicked in politics
The tension and jitters were high
The sleep was nigh
Agents filled every nook and cranny in the homestead
The hope was to keep them intact
And make sure they’d be back on the day of work
Especially with their pockets lined with cash for their pay
The pay was made before a mistake later regretted
Late into the night till the midnight hour
The agents consulted with their parliamentarian to be
With each other the discussed how work should be done at the polling stations
What to read and how to take note
Of any successes and any abnormalities
After midnight they slumbered,
Some in their drunken state stared as we worked through the night
Making tea and chatting of the day to come
We chatted and dozed in the cold darkened night
Now the wee hours of the morning are drawing near
Scared to rest any head on the pillows
Lest the day passes and leave us behind
So an hour and a half later we woke the workers
We served tea and mandazis at 2am
Some complained, especially the ‘empowered’ women
Who slept in the warmth of the living room
While their male counterparts crammed the vehicles
And the crowded office
Others sat up and finished their hard drinks
Drunkenness keeping them afloat
And their eyes ablaze
He commented on how he saw mum and I
walk back and forth through the kitchen room
he asked for ugali and not for tea
at 2am the drop offs begin
each handed a container with pilau and a bottle of water
some were pleased some were pissed
but there were always the ungrateful so and sos
“where shall I carry this, I have no bag”
“is this enough or will it be over before I reach the station”
“don’t you have a plastic bag for me to carry to our destination”
But by second trip we went along too
Eyeballs nearly popping out, and ready to drop
No amount of coffee could trip me into the wake up zone
So off to the constituency, in our anxious sleepy state.