The beast

We heard screams from our neighbor

Screams of panic, screams of fear

That so hurriedly

Dragged us from our homes

I Met a Girl In Kibera

I met this girl in Kibera

Tall, dark, lean, dark eyes and long hair

Elsewhere, she could have been a model

Strutting before hungry cameras and eyes

Making a living by being who she is

I sing not Kibera

I sing not this infamous slum

That is constantly topical

For crime, poverty, calamities

That characterise daily routine.  

When all is said and done

When all is said and done, More will be left said than done And we will forget them altogether For we do not live on promises of the past

I wish I was born earlier

I wish I was born earlier,

When people were still savages

And there was no wave of civilisation.

When men were manly,

And women valued their chastity,

As they value prostitution now.

One night

She came at night And left before light She had me ignite To the sweetness infinite

My little prayer

Make me your love Lord To always write without load, Although so much bored With this work of word Always give me strength aboard To write and write and write Whatever that you approve right

Eric Lungai

Confused

My mind is spinning

Like the earth, rotating

But without an axis

It is revolving

But it has no orbit

Nothing makes sense

Not even sense itself!

Karani Kelvin. 

Dreams

Dreams of yester years

Haunt me when awake

They blind my eyes

Shackle my feet

I walk

Without seeing

Dragging my feet

On the ground

Wondering

Like the dreams

What really happened?

Why did it happen?

Why am I here?

You will never walk alone

We hear your cries brother

Do not let go for we are coming

These captors’ cells contain us no more

We have broken free! We are free again!

Your groans have reached us

Like the sting of a bee they pierce our hearts

Hold on! Calvary is coming for you

Hold on! Our arrows are being sharpened

Hold on! Sacrifices are being offered

Hold on brother! We cannot carry a corpse

To our people; what would they think?

Guard that life well, strengthen your heart!

Let not the kicks and blows of the enemy

Grind you like millet by the grinding stone

Fight for life! Fight! Fight! Fight!

Fight for you are not walking alone!

Karani Kelvin

Letter to Atapara

I have not forgotten you, Atapara

Land of my ancestors

Beautiful place of my birth

Your fresh air, singing birds, sleeping boulders

Is the memory I always carry