by Marion Akinyi Ochieng
Published on: Sep 5, 2005
Topic:
Type: Poetry

They Say...

mwenye nguvu mpishe
Yes, obey your elders
But fear is what they plant in us,
With fear there’s no courage,
Courage to make life interesting,
To dream and fight challenges positively
To dare to try, leave alone, succeed.

They are just kids, with no experience
So we have power over them they bark
They are the village top dogs
They bark and their prey shrinks
Showing obedience in the name of fear.

Some of them are actually toothless,
Their actions absurd and wicked
Disgracing their own blood and flesh
Taking away the dignity of future leaders
This must stop! You toothless bulldogs,
You useless inhuman creatures.

Thanks to god we have rights
We can now speak our minds
Dare to dream and drive away fear
The fear sandwiched in obedience
Yes, say yes to Children.
We too have rights!

*Swahili saying translating to give way to the powerful


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