Patches of Little Wishes

A poem by Kimutai Kemboi Allan

The little girl knows

Rocky steps down the river

A thirsty flock of cattle

And a plastic container on her tanned back

The dust turned her eyes brown

A black beauty disfaced.

The road is rough

A muddy patch of a nightmare

Swallowing vehicles

And the food perishes with the hours

An unhappy home

A tired citizenry singing dirges at noon.

The little girl wishes

She could get a new uniform

Run to happily to school every morning

They are wishes at best

Stuck in her beautiful heart

She's buried in the hurlyburly of day.