I was asked why I always
Give kids on my streets few shillings
Even though
The street has no memory
It will kill me when it needs
It is really selfish
I answered
They have held it together
That’s better than I would
I recognise I am a day away
One bad day away from
Waking up covering my face going to a bank and robbing you
One bad day away from
strapping up and blowing myself in a mall
One bad day away from
buying a gun and shooting the whole lot of you
One bad day away from
Removing your eyes because I did not like how you looked at me
One bad day away from
Slitting your throat at night because I feel like you took from me
One bad away
From becoming a monster used to scare kids to be good
To keep it short
The compassion is to keep me safe
Maybe this street kid is one day away
Categories:
nairobi, analogy, angst, endurance, fear,
Form: Free verse
A place to call home
A field in which to roam
A hundred and fifteen reasons
As many Christmas seasons
We are justifiably proud
To be one of the crowd
Come rain or sunshine
We are just fine
Under lockdown, our spirits soar
To toast each other, once more
As,our illustrious past Chairs, we praise
To Chairman, John, our glasses we raise
Categories:
nairobi, 12th grade, africa, anniversary,
Form: Rhyme
Streetlights shinning, makes the city glitter
The tarmac surface resists light penetration, causing a sparkle
Sweet scent from different flowers melting hearts
Oh yes! No nos nor buts
Oh yes
That's stunning. What a beauty!
Those eyes? Not even a fugitive can escape their wrath
I'm tongue tied but not mute
I can't walk not that I am crippled
It's only that no one can run away from an angel
Mathematics wasn't my subject but this sum is well added
Her round tantalizing eyes, oh my! you can't help but give in
I am shy but I can't look away
Stick to the subject she is beautiful
Love is in the heart.
That's true, I can feel it.
It is beating
The West African Tom Tom drums...that's the rhythm
My ribcage is under threat
Dear legs save the ribs just go for it
Her voice is sweet it reminds me of Elani
A delicious food for my soul
I am ready to dine
Our proximity is making it worse
Palpitation increasing, with stuttering making the bonus
Love is blossoming,the attraction I can't repel
I swear to love her
though there was no live audience
the statue of Kimathi be my witness
Truly I have fallen in love in Nairobi
Categories:
nairobi, africa, angel,
Form: Free verse
Stands a beautiful city of glass, bricks and smooth roads.
French perfumes fill the air;
Cars from the showroom fill the roads;
Designer clothes decorate display glasses in malls...
In the city outskirts,
people sell donkey meat, with the pretext
it's cow meat;
get money from pastoral offerings in the day,
and selling hot coffee in the night;
sell latest movies and music during weekends,
and deejay in clubs during weekends;
borrow old text books from friends,
and start their own libraries;
roast maize by the roadside;
go to the riverbanks and fetch river water,
fill it in containers, and sell it to estates
without water.....
By the end of the day,
everyone wants to earn a daily bread;
wants to smell of French perfumes;
wants cars straight from showrooms;
wants to wear designer clothes....
Categories:
nairobi, life, money, poverty, success,
Form: Free verse
Like a lazy patient serpent
Machines line up to an infinite stretch
Yonder is Nairobi, barely minutes
Away, only if traffic would thaw
No option but enjoy the engines' hum
Categories:
nairobi, africa, car,
Form: Haiku
N ows here the place Joy Adams was chased
A s the lion cubs let loose followed her scent
I n haste through stores and stalls in riotous glee
R ight to her they led George he begged her to stay
O utwitted in her ploy to go she tried again to leave
B ut the lion cubs sure had other ideas and circled her
I nstead she found that no way could she leave them
written 09/19/2013
contest skipping six,Going Straight to Seven- Acrostics challenge #3
Categories:
nairobi, africa, cat,
Form: Acrostic
SUMMER NIGHT IN THE NAIROBI BEER GARDEN
goats crop blooms
tall herders nonchalant
nip an ale
sun drops low
crickets are counting drinks
last call squeak
Categories:
nairobi, seasons,
Form: Haiku
RICE SLAM
Nairobi, Kenya Nov 2012 (election rallies held Sept 2012 until March 2013 election day)
hey hey
voting day
go on strike
take a hike
smash a bike
wave a spike
hey hey
voting day
grab a bat
bat a man
smash and steal
if you can
man its fun
on the run
run and fight
fight all night
start a fire
slash a tire
man its fun
on the run
grab a bat
bat a vote
bat a cop
steal a boat
hope this day
will never stop
love to smash
smash and bash
smash and bash
the cop, cop
hey hey
voting day
call your chums
to play play
call your chum
he will come
tote a gun
twice the fun
knife and gun
day is won
slash a guy
smash a girl
life is in
a voting whirl
vote it once
vote it twice
then i'll switch
fingers itch
make me rich
then i'll switch
scream another
candidate has
changed his brothers
scream another
stronger brother
one more switch
make me rich
make me rich
on beans and rice
ain't it nice
to be rich
fingers twitch
money itch
love the rich
rulers switch
vote vote
twice twice
more red beans
and
rice rice
Categories:
nairobi, life, places, political, satire,
Form: Rhyme