By the Idler-in-Chief At the Nyagenke Group of DEB Primary Schools, academic creativity has reached a level only the angels can interpret. The other day, a pupil was asked to “write a poem in five lines.” The young scholar, driven by Nyagenke literalism, believed that he obeyed the instruction faithfully. He wrote POEM in big, […]

By Shem Onderi The class is a patchwork of ages,Stories gathered from every corner.Some arrive chasing escape—from poverty, from uncertainty,Others are here because a parent commanded it. Some stand tall, loud and bullying,Others sit small, timid, almost invisible.A few with swollen bellies,hunger written in their skin.Many are barefoot,their bodies pale, untouched by lotion. School bags […]

By Shem Onderi Full now, empty later,you serve warm, hot, or cold—always to satisfy the consumer.You feel the heatyet never taste the delicacy.You complain not,silent, holding only for a while. Dirty after use, smelly before wash,yet clean and inviting after a rinse.Some flat, others potbellied,shaped to hold as size demands.The user decideswhat to serve, how […]

By Shem Onderi You are heavy to carry around, but with impact you are valuable at the election day,  but too difficult to make a decision for voters admire to have you, they queue to register to have you, others hate to line up to register for you for you carry emotions along, be it […]

-By Shem Onderi You bear the smell of my feet.How my whole foot fits inside you—it’s amazing, unimaginable.See, my toes are huge, unruly,each one pointing its own way. You carry my weight,take the blows of stonesso I remain safe.At times, I polish you with hard-bristled care,but the village mud always gets the last laugh. To […]

By Shem Onderi Oh, Dispensary Bench, if you were human,So wide, so strong, your presence is proven.Built for comfort, you await with grace,As patients sit, in this quiet space. Placed by the wall, near the block,Not far from the doctor or the pharmacist’s walk,You rest in the hallway, often alone,Unnoticed at dusk, when the day’s […]