DROUGHT AMONGST THE RAIN
This is our present not our past
and things are changing rapidly not even fast,
this are the times of hunger and times of thirst,
This land of sweeping plains is facing the normal in a strange way
It'll rain tommorow if not today,
We always say,
Then we wait, but nothing, it doesn't even rain late.
The planted are not growing, it's just pain
We've got drought amongst the rain.
Two o'clock, two o'clock always found me walking but now, it finds the sun scorching
I can't survive twenty minutes of talking,
Under it
Everything is different it's all becoming intense
Hunger against families with no defense
Knowledge against Teens with no reference
And most of my folks don't even understand the scene
They just see bodies of their keen
The watch as yellow turns up from what was once green.
So for our sake and yours, we need to do more
For momentary moments make monumental change
Every drip drop makes a different because we can be that change.
Because it's no rain reigning over rain
And they don't know what to do
For them there's no number two
But we know they do.
Crops crying for just a drop
The air is hot and hearts are cold
I don't think there's much of this they can hold
So unpredictable are the skies
It's like the clouds are always telling lies
Like they are about to cry
But nothing, it all comes down to clear nights.
So maybe I didn't mean to rhyme but I know weve got enemies to fight.
So if we're planning for a lifetime let's educate them
Am sure they'll do the same
And then the knowledge will gain fame,
And the wild situation will be tamed.
We don't want to sit and watch everything Tumble
Families and children crumble
We don't need more of the samples
Struggle for progress not perfection
It'll count anyway if we have the intention,
The change is us, we are the change.
By Roan Okong'o, St Joseph's High School, Kitale, Kenya