by Joe Mwenda Download pdf ~ epub ~ mobi
Thehangover that should be gone by mid-morning lingers
The
afternoon solar is lethal
afternoon solar is lethal
A
brother sells cabbages by the roadside
brother sells cabbages by the roadside
Blocking
my path, of fellow in hurry, impatient, tired walkers,
my path, of fellow in hurry, impatient, tired walkers,
Of
those that cook, of dust.
those that cook, of dust.
How
else will the cabbages begging to be bought be seen?
else will the cabbages begging to be bought be seen?
Tomatoes
are on sale.
are on sale.
It’s
the mango season so mangoes too.
the mango season so mangoes too.
Korogocho
market is the supplier our roadside retailers
market is the supplier our roadside retailers
it
is a close to the home of our garbage
is a close to the home of our garbage
A
story spreads about lead concentration
story spreads about lead concentration
in
the blood of Eastlands’ kids,
the blood of Eastlands’ kids,
of
veggies watered by the Nairobi River
veggies watered by the Nairobi River
The
cabbages I see are bad investment
cabbages I see are bad investment
“Who
would buy such, to sell or to consume?”
would buy such, to sell or to consume?”
you
might ask.
might ask.
They
are typical of a starter business with limited capital.
are typical of a starter business with limited capital.
Wonder
who would buy that mango?
who would buy that mango?
Don’t
ask, don’t wonder.
ask, don’t wonder.
A
man might one day grow dreadlocks
man might one day grow dreadlocks
decide
that it is sinful with such locks
that it is sinful with such locks
to
trim others’ hair
trim others’ hair
so
closes the barber shop he has always run
closes the barber shop he has always run
leave
you with nowhere to shave for he knows your head best
you with nowhere to shave for he knows your head best
start
selling cabbages and mangoes that you might never buy
selling cabbages and mangoes that you might never buy
even
in the desperation of unshaved hair.
in the desperation of unshaved hair.
But
I am the son of my mother
I am the son of my mother
these
brothers, that yell ‘cabbage mbao! ‘cabbage mbao!’
brothers, that yell ‘cabbage mbao! ‘cabbage mbao!’
in
this lethal afternoon solar are not of that mother.
this lethal afternoon solar are not of that mother.
This
sun can kill, besides, I have a beard-trim to figure out.
sun can kill, besides, I have a beard-trim to figure out.
I’ve
got to get to the house
got to get to the house
Excuse me.
~~
Download pdf ~ epub ~ mobi
~~
Joe
Mwenda is a Kenyan psychologist working with persons with various
learning disabilities in Nairobi. He loves books. He loves poetry and
has been creating his own for at least eight years.
~~
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in This Issue
in This Issue
Short
Stories
Stories
Poetry
