A Group Photo Poem by Job Ombati

They took a group photo
On a sunny late morning
Just after church
The photo man carefully arranged the group -
Men and women
Some in black leather Bata shoes
A few in canvas Bata shoes
Several in sandak
One barefoot
But all -
Happy to be in the picture.

They all wore bright smiles -
Genuine smiles
Rare
Unique to that lost generation
At the back an inscription
In a neat cursive -
25.12.1972.

All stood in a careful synchrony
At the back
Two lines - all standing
At the front
Eight people- all squatting
Safe for a man in coat and tie - sitted
And behind him - standing
An elegant woman - decently dressed
With her hands on the man's shoulders.

And just before the flash clicked
They said, 'Potato ooo!

© Poems for Humanity