By Shem Onderi In my mind I live foreverIt has no partitions, no walls, no concreteIn my mind is where I spend all my life,The mind is rough or smooth depending on how I shape it I want to know the size of my mind, its physical formAnd the shape of itHow it manages to […]

By Chipanga Daniel “Not today,”My dancing master always said,In the twilight of his years—Still believing he had more time to live. He rose with his walking stick,Hoping to command nature’s pace,A smile creasing his wrinkled faceAs memories of better days flickered behind his eyes. When the sun dipped low,He’d step out to admire God’s brushwork,Knowing […]

By Chipanga Daniel I will always choose to be happy—A positive thought of myself,Knowing that problems are just bumps in life,So I treasure every moment I have. They say money can’t buy happiness,But I beg to differ,Because wealth can bring—Joy, love, peace, and even respect. I have my own life idols,I admire their wisdom and […]

By Dories Kwamboka I was raised where dreams spoke in hush,In a home where love wore modest hush.My mother stitched hope into every thread,With hands that shaped the life we led. She knocked on doors with weary feet,Took any job to make ends meet.She pieced together school fees owed,And bore our grief with strength she […]

By Unknown I hope this letter finds you well— though I doubt it will. Today, I was meant to return. Chalk dust on my cuffs, a lesson plan in hand, a smile for my students. But I won’t be coming. Not sick. Not quitting. Just gone. I went home to Homa Bay, to greet my […]

By Shem Onderi Spare her the abuse—she’s in a delicate state.A life is growing, a promise fulfilled, love taking shape.The earth is filling, just as the Bible foretold;A new life stirs—a miracle to behold. Don’t intimidate her, Nurse, with harsh words or tone.Her scent may be strong, but she bears that alone.Detergents are scarce, perfumes […]

By Shem Onderi Neighbor, in joy and quarrel, in laughter and grief,We have endured together — shared abundance and emptiness. You’ve heard my visitors gossip about others you know well.Not once, but often, we’ve borrowed cooking oil, lamp gas,A tin here, a spoon there — small things that filled big gaps. Our families have taken […]

By Shem Onderi In the day, you hide from sight,Visitors arrive, and you take flight.I’ve tried to clear you out, but you won’t depart,You squeeze into small spaces, a clever art. At night, you emerge, in numbers so grand,Feasting on leftovers, in this culinary land.You rest by day, digesting with glee,Converting food to energy, a […]