Poetry Corner Thomas Mhando

THE CURTAIN THAT WHISPERS IN THE WIND

The curtain dances when there’s no breeze,Performing dramas with elegant ease.Sunlight pierces through its seams,Interrupting unfinished dreams. It hides the world, then peeks outside,A gossip dressed in fabric pride.At night it frames the passing glow,Of strangers only it may know. Wind arrives, it swells with flair,Like actors needing all the air.I pull it closed for…

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SAKINA S. DOSSAJI

YOU ARE THE MEDICINE

In the words of Maria Sashina,Mexican healer and poet – “Heal yourself with the light of the sunand the rays of the moon.” With the sound of the riverand the waterfall, With the singing of the seaand the fluttering of birds Heal yourself with mint, neem,and eucalyptus. Sweeten with lavender,rosemary, and chamomile. Hug yourself with…

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Poetry Corner Thomas Mhando

THE BAG THAT BREAKS AT THE CITY GATE

The bag survives a hundred streets,Then breaks exactly near my feet.It carries hope in fragile skin,Thin plastic stretched by what’s within. Eggs become a risky prayer,Tomatoes roll without a care,I redistribute weight like math,Trying to outsmart disaster’s path. Handles dig into my hand,Leaving marks like reprimands.Yet cashiers nod with quiet trust,As if the bag will…

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SAKINA S. DOSSAJI

I LOST A HUNDRED TIMES

I lost a hundred timesBut I am not a loser,I failed a thousand timesBut I am not a failure,I made countless mistakesBut I am not a defect,I am not tornBut patched, reborn,I have shed pools of tears,But my smiles, a thousandfold,I have broken down to piecesYet stood up to put a brave front,Paled is the…

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Poetry Corner Thomas Mhando

THE ALARM THAT BREAKS THE MORNING’S CHARM

The alarm begins with gentle tone,Then escalates like debts unpaid.I silence it with sleepy skill,It returns louder, sharper still. Five more minutes become a crime,Measured harshly against the time.Dreams retreat without appeal,Reality enters cold and real. It rings on days I need escape,On rainy mornings draped in weight.I threaten apps, replacement clocks,The alarm remains unmoved…

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UPRIGHT THINKING Madaraka Nyerere

WHEN THE FOOTBALL TESTS AFRICAN UNITY

Every four years, when the FIFA World Cup takes centre stage, I traditionally support Africa’s participating teams regardless of nationality. Yet in the ongoing tournament, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, some African fans have withheld support for South Africa and Morocco. Their reasons range from resentment over xenophobic attacks in South…

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Health Diary Lulu

TONGUE-TIE IN BABIES

Many parents become concerned when their newborn struggles with breastfeeding or seems unable to stick out their tongue properly. In some cases, the cause may be a condition known as tongue-tie, a common condition that is often misunderstood. Tongue-tie occurs when the thin piece of tissue connecting the underside of the tongue to the floor…

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BY NASHESHA ROWBERG GARDEN GAMBLE

THAT ONE SMALL BOOK

Flowers bring joy to our gardens. Painting our lives with beauty and colour. Often we think of flowers in our gardens as merely decorative components; colourful bursts of petals to break up the various shades of green or brown. However, it is often overlooked how these eye-catching botanicals hold significant roles that improve how your…

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BY NASHESHA ROWBERG GARDEN GAMBLE

AN ODE TO FLOWERS

Flowers bring joy to our gardens. Painting our lives with beauty and colour. Often we think of flowers in our gardens as merely decorative components; colourful bursts of petals to break up the various shades of green or brown. However, it is often overlooked how these eye-catching botanicals hold significant roles that improve how your…

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