Urban Fear
I fear I might be woken up by gunshots,
as thugs attempt to break into my house.
I fear everything might have expired in the fridge,
because of power blackout throughout the night,
and long hours throughout the day.
I cross my fingers as I search for "breakfast".
I fear for my cousin who loves eating junk food
almost everyday;
I can see him becoming obese really soon...
I fear I might be hit by a matatu,
as it carries passengers to the Metropolitan City.
Sometimes they use pedestrian routes,
when traffic cops are not around.
I fear I might be retrenched early,
as bosses in other companies cut off their employees,
due to higher costs of living and inflation.
I fear for the children in the war-ravaged countries;
I can't stand the cry of a hungry child in pain.
I fear picking up phone calls,
because scammers and funeral announcements
are common.
I fear listening to the radio or watching TV;
terrorism, ethnic cleansing, natural calamities....
is all I hear and see all day...
I fear I might get a misdiagnosis or wrong prescriptions
when I'm sick - there are many quack doctors out there.
I fear for my brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends
travelling by road. Road accidents have taken lives
a dozen times more than terrorism, suicides,
illnesses combined.
I fear that I'll never cease to fear....
Glossary:
* Matatu - A public service vehicle that transports people in urban areas
in Kenya.
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