By Shem Onderi Gallons of water pass under the bridge,Sometimes silently, other times loud—Much of it unaccounted for in any measure.Under the bridge, many bird species have made a home. Some hunt and eat their fill under the bridge,Avoiding disturbance.Others hide from predators; it is a refuge.The water passing beneath poses no threat to them. […]

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 […]

Shem Onderi Poor stomach, ever hollow,a boundless space, though small, I swallow.Too small, it seems, to hold the feastthat fuels my days, a hungry beast.You never swell in bellies tight,yet hunger’s rumble claims its right,a rude demand, attention’s call,demanding sustenance for all. You wake me with your gnawing need,then fullness brings a dizzying creed.An empty […]

By Shem Onderi Change is here, within me, around me—I am no longer youthful. Old age is no prize to claim,my actions betray my years.Spiced foods are forbidden,the doctor wants to keep me breathing,so I visit the clinic more often than I’d like. Meals are selective, my chewing is slow.My polished designer shoes gleam in […]

By Shem Onderi Dust in summer, mud in winter—the two, in constant exchange on our roads,but mud clings, refuses to leave.Just a few drops from heaven confirm your presence;you need only water to form. Those who value polished appearancesnever live where you reign.They flee to tarmacked cities,seeking to escape the constant repair of their locomotives.But […]