Ghetto Mentality

Within these walls
Deep down in the hearts of these slums
Underneath all the poverty
Beyond the misery and turbulence
Past all the the violence and insecurity
Deep deep down these slums lays a treasure
A treasure worth pursuing
A treasure finely wrapped in fine linen
One that can be the remedy to our misery
One that can terminate the poverty
But unfortunately
Only a few can realize it
The finest Artists and rappers
Talented footballers
Those skilled in graphics
Best known DJ's 
Excellent actors and actresses
And many more 
All these add up to its population
But it is sad how all these goes to waste
Poverty forcefully drugs us to look for easier ways to feed
Corruption is so selfish that it never allow us room to exploit our talents
Drugs champions all when it takes the best part of these gifted minds
And all that is left 
Are screwed up lives, disturbed minds and blurred futures
The treasure keeps being covered up at the expense of our incapability
And am left to wonder
For how much longer will these keep going on?
When will the chain ever break?
When will we ever find something to smile about?
When will the treasure ever be uncovered?
When will we rise beyond our mediocrity?
When will go to bed not worrying about what tomorrow will be like?
Until then, we do what we know how to do best
Love those dear to us warmly
Stick together in brotherly affection, embracing each others joys and sorrow
Share the bread with the lesser fortunate
Use laughter: the best medicine to cure our ailments
Crack jokes to give our empty bellies a cold shoulder
Although uncertain of whether our dreams will be realized,
We hold on to our candles 
Awaiting a brighter dawn.
Peace.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Kimathi Avatar
April 4, 2016 at 5:34 AM
A deep, emotional verse indeed.... Please, keep writing more of such works.
Oimbo Avatar
January 25, 2011 at 1:35 AM
I am A Kenyan like you so i really feel the poem to the deepest marrow, continue writing such kind of great poems
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