Tuesday, November 22, 2011

CHILD LABOUR


Children are God’s given gift

To us they come to bless

Why do you neglect them?

Why do you subject them

To unwarranted suffering,

To pain day in day out?

Why do you waste their potential?

Stop child labour.



As dawn approaches

The horizon gives birth

The sun stretches its long golden hands

Eating the carpet of dew

Into sheer nothingness



A new day

Full of expectations and hope

For a poor African child

Born to suffer

Brought up to persevere

But getting nothing in return

Nothing



John takes the cows to the river

Jane prepares the liver

John collects firewood

Jane prepares the food

Do this!! Do that!!

Are the commands

From the very parents mouth

From east or south

Real or adapted

This is what they say.



Jane and John

In pain and no gain

While the age is tender

Are out of school to work

Oblivious of whale and shark

Regardless of will and like



In coffee and tea plantations

In the sculpture and bricks excavations

In miraa and rice harvesting

Under the scorching rays of the sun



John seats in a busy street

“chai! Papa! Mama!”

He says

He runs through intense traffic jam

Threatening with stinking human waste

For somebody to throw a coin



Half naked but not sorry for it

Jane joins in

Up and down Koinange Street

Selling her body to strangers

Just for money

I say for money.



Before the chest shows up

Jane is already married

Sold to a stinking old grandpa

For the father to get bride wealth.

In utter disregard

Of Jane’s human rights



Children need care

Education is their core

Stop child labour



© Tabu Bin Tabu 2009
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