FATALE
The scoundrel sat in a dingy, smoke-filled room, in a building more uptown than any other in the city yet most downbeat. As music played faintly and distantly on the vinyl player in the corner, he nursed his drink contemplatively. He gloated, in a twisted sense, at how the very bar he sat in was … Continue reading FATALE
Spend the Night with Me
They say people do crazy things for love, but I do crazy things for food. Specifically carbs. Specifically those made from wheat. I’m talking pasta, bread (like that pretentious-sounding but magical kwasson), cake, pizza, chapati. If food had celebrities, wheat products would forever be on magazine covers in perfect lighting and with expensive garnishes and … Continue reading Spend the Night with Me
Another Person
By Seth I watched her walk by the shore, the sea whipping around her bare legs. She looked desolate, caught up in the moment. I watched silently from the balcony as the girl I had grown to know and love… no, she was no more. The girl was still there, but her soul was gone. … Continue reading Another Person
Simple Life
I want my simple life back. Simple, thought-free life. The waking up with no worries at all. The occasional lie to the parents that you were coming down with a severe case of the flu only to catch up with the missed Ben 10 episodes – that by the way you wouldn’t have missed had … Continue reading Simple Life
That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles
If you are the type that bites your nails when nervous, then the past few weeks must have left you bleeding. But what else would have been expected from you when the presidential race was a nail-biter or simply put, a race tighter than your gir… (pun unintended). As Chebukati slowly crunched the numbers, speculation … Continue reading That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles
Oh God!
I have always been curious to find out who was the first human being to exclaim ‘Oh God!’ What section of the world were they from? Which god were they referring to? Were they happy or sad or both at the same time? The section of my brain with a chronically bad sense of humor … Continue reading Oh God!
Day 3: Confusion.
Three days. It took them three days to notice her absence. Said days had been silent, peaceful even, and not once did it occur to any of them, to be peculiar. The evening was also quiet. Not the normal quiet. An unusual quiet like the calm before a storm, a sort of premonition of doom. … Continue reading Day 3: Confusion.
MY ERATO
Your presence propels me deep into the beauty and grace of being with you Let me caress you, let me hold you, let me bring stillness into our breathless existence You may think you are not special. In a moment of existence, you are the center of my universe. Let’s be consumed by the passion … Continue reading MY ERATO
Curves
By The Bee. In a world full of straights and narrows,we are the curves.A myriad of names has been made specifically for us, including ‘thick chics’ and ‘curvy girls’.The voluptuous womanly figure on us often evokes mixed reactions: the Gram advertising weight loss services in all shapes and forms,TV broadcasting fitness programs that enthusiastically champion … Continue reading Curves
Ladies and Gentlemen, Her
The sun is out today. She sits in the shade of a pine tree on the cold grass, lazily stretching her feet till her toes kiss the sunlight beaming through the leaves. Her hands struggle to nestle a pair of headphones in the thick fluffy cloud that is her hair. It’s dyed a bold white, … Continue reading Ladies and Gentlemen, Her
MODERN ASTRONOMY
“I’m always especially tired after twelve hours of consciousness,” Ryan stated, “but today was different.” “How’s that?” Ted asked. “I actually had an idea for a poem. Actually, I probably would’ve written it as a short story, but I didn’t end up writing it because I thought it would’ve been a stupid story.” Ted, surprised, … Continue reading MODERN ASTRONOMY
MY FIRST 100 DAYS
Good morning, Kenyans. We have just concluded our elections and right now, we have the results. I want to thank every Kenyan who came out to vote, I want to thank every single mother who came out to vote, I want to thank every single young person who came out to vote, I want to … Continue reading MY FIRST 100 DAYS
Happy
Our math teacher we called wise man for reasons I’d rather not get into. He was, and probably still is, the typical math teacher. The mwalimu niachie huyo kind. Clean shaven head, nerdy glasses, plaid shirt tucked neatly into his khakis with a belt, some ugly loafers and there was always an unmatching over-sized coat … Continue reading Happy
RURACIO
Five o’clock in the morning. No conversations going boring. Just your head laid back on the left backseat headrest in a vehicle where in more than one occasion, the driver assigned is the only adult with the exception of one or two parent figures. The convoy snakes its way into the Eastern Bypass, and you … Continue reading RURACIO
The Unravelling
You tell them to bear their souls to you,to open up. You tell them that you want the good,the bad,and the horrendous. You say that you want to see who they truly are. You say that they should not hide,that they should show you their souls. That you want to hear the reason for the … Continue reading The Unravelling
TAMED
I see you walking towards us even before she can introduce you. OMG! THE WALK! I mean I’ve never doubted Natasha’s taste but you are definitely a hit. The tight fitting half-way buttoned up white shirt gives off the effect you want, you slut. Well tucked in your grey suit pants that are just an … Continue reading TAMED
Find Another
So apparently for some of us, the things we can’t say with our mouths we say with our hands and the other party responds. But for you, things you can’t say with your mouth, you say with tens of Instagram paragraphs and dedicated whatsapp statuses and I think I’m a bit fed up with the … Continue reading Find Another
It’s gonna make you cry
I look at her and she does not remind me of anyone from my past. Her eyes give me the feeling that I don’t need anything else. Her hand slowly caresses my body awaking the monster inside me. I want to be vulnerable with her. Is it her energy or is it the fact that … Continue reading It’s gonna make you cry
ONE-NIGHT STAND
YOLO, or whatever it is that you say when you encounter one of them on one or more of your countless weekend night escapades when intentional sobriety is never an option. Your first encounter locates you in a two-roomed crib in the city you reside in solely for the purpose of pursuing further education but … Continue reading ONE-NIGHT STAND
JADED
I’m fresh from watching a video where, in an unfortunate sequence of events a lady jumped off a roof. A rather morbid way to start a story, I know, but who am I if not your cultured purveyor of emotions, and it would seem that, after avoiding it for so long , its finally time … Continue reading JADED
HOLLOW
It’s paradoxical really, how fragile we are. Physically we stumble, fall and get scarred. Scars sting for a while, then they scab over, and before you know it, all you have left is a faint phantom pain whenever you gaze at a scar, a memory of what was. For all the talk you’ll find in … Continue reading HOLLOW
SWEATER WEATHER
I remember when we were kids and we were asked to write compositions, almost invariably we would find a way to squeeze in, “It was raining cats and dogs”, to start. I’m realizing now, with my significantly less pure and innocent brain that most of these composition beginnings looked like scenes straight out of stranger … Continue reading SWEATER WEATHER
WAKILI & I; Poker, Tea and Music
It was our third or fourth time meeting. I don’t know why she tagged along to game night, that particular one, and why she brought Sheila along with her. I know how that sounds, but I was just concerned that Sheila would get bored cause no one there would be willing to play candy crush … Continue reading WAKILI & I; Poker, Tea and Music
THE SHOE WILL NEVER FIT
There has never been a funnier time to tell someone ‘you are going places’. Its difficult to go anywhere in this country right now. I can’t even go to class, the weather makes it difficult to get out of the blankets and on the slim chance that you do, you have nothing to wear because … Continue reading THE SHOE WILL NEVER FIT
FACADES
I’m a writer, I like to think that if I tell myself something enough times, it’ll be true. It isn’t even really a lie, I’m writing this aren’t I? You’re nodding slowly, I can see it and I’m matching it, frantically, nod for nod, but it doesn’t work. It’s frightening how no matter how much … Continue reading FACADES
Possession With Intent To Distribute
Nobody can really understand why you are obsessed with whatever or whoever it is you are obsessed with. Take my ‘coffee breaks’ for instance; with the coffee one can easily argue its more of an addiction than it is an obsession, but the same cannot apply for the accompanying cupcakes and(or) cookies. Those you’ll have … Continue reading Possession With Intent To Distribute
The Bad Friend – A letter to myself
I haven’t been a good friend, at least I don’t feel that I have been lately. Friendships are squirmy complicated organisms, they’re like babies, when you have them fed, washed and properly put in their cots for rest, they suddenly seem to be possessed by the ghost of Michael Jackson (smooth criminal mike, not thriller … Continue reading The Bad Friend – A letter to myself
So Hukuji?
“So hukuji?!” It was more of an aggravation than a question as he mistakenly hurled a half-full tumbler of tap water across the bedsitter apartment and onto a four by six spring bed in the corner. One could almost perceive the soul being sucked out of his being following the confirmed disappointment after receiving the … Continue reading So Hukuji?
Ramblings On Happiness
I’m dead tired, but I’m happy. it sounds contradictory I know but it’s a rather satisfying feeling. Like slipping into a mildly warm bath at the end of a really really long day. Its at a time like this that Adulting becomes less of a vague outlandish concept with nothing to do with us and … Continue reading Ramblings On Happiness
AISHA
Interesting title, don’t you think brother. Initially it was Hey Brother, but I figured you’d ignore it like you have all my previous ones, so I went with a title you would never resist. If Pops were sill around, he’d smack you if he knew where I picked you up from last night. I can … Continue reading AISHA
CLOSURE BY SARUSH.
You know it’s been a good day when you find yourself dancing to “The Wake-Up Call with Grauchi” that’s blazing through the premium membranes of your Xiaomi Bluetooth Earbuds as you head home from Clabu. Home is Chiromo; a step up from the shady life you lived at Hall 16’s Mamlaka A hostel. There you … Continue reading CLOSURE BY SARUSH.
Midas Touch
Suffice it to say, there is always that one. Where veritably unrelatable, regard that one pair of jeans, black brassiere or spoon. Fret not, brethren and sistren, if the shoe fits. Love (brotherly, in fact) was the command, never association. There is always that one. I will say it again: there is. Your knowledge of … Continue reading Midas Touch
Mboka Series
Mboka Serie’s Mteja Have you ever been robbed? I was robbed. It was more of snatching though😂. It was 10 pm dead in the night. I was going somewhere, and we all know where, not the exact place but you know what I mean. I wanted to order a boda they are fast. I … Continue reading Mboka Series
Dear Adidudas,
Dear Adidudas, It feels crazy to even think that I’m writing this letter to you today. Silly much? It’s weird even because it’s been three months since I last laid eyes on you. Do you even remember me? Of course not. I’m just another admirer’s face. I recall someone telling me, once, that I should … Continue reading Dear Adidudas,
Abonde
See, I now wage war with my thoughts, A terftie between the new and the old, Trying to resurrect my old The new holds me abonde of the present, What I’m I? What I’m I becoming? I co-exist with the fear of self doubt, What will they call me? What will they perceive about me? … Continue reading Abonde
Thoughts Of A Philosopher
Thoughts of a philosopher, Depressing yet so utopian, Is knowledge a blessing? Or is it a curse? The more you understand, the more tormented you become. Madness and wisdom are like twins Wisdom will lead you into sorrow, Sorrow will lead you into madness, But it is better to be wise than to be a … Continue reading Thoughts Of A Philosopher
Manenoz 