Tae a Moose

Small, crafty, cowering, timid little beast,
Oh, what a panic is in our little breast!
You need not start away so hasty,
With argumentative chatter!
I would be loath to run and chase you,
With murdering plough-staff.

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
And justifies that ill opinion
Which makes you startle
At me, your poor, earth born companion
And fellow mortal!

I doubt not, sometimes, that you may steal;
What then? Poor little beast, you must live!
An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves
Is a small request;
I will get a blessing with what is left,
And never miss it.

Your small house, too in ruin!
Its feeble walls the winds are scattering!
And nothing now, to build a new one,
Of coarse green foliage!
And bleak December's winds coming,
Both bitter and piercing!

You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,
And weary winter coming fast,
And cozy here, beneath the blast,
You thought well to dwell,
Till CRASH! the cruel plough passed
Out through your cell.

That small heap of leaves and stubble,
Has cost you many a weary nibble!
Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,
Without house or holding,
To endure the winter's sleety dribble,
And hoar-frost cold.

But little Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes of mice and men
Go often askew,
And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
For promised joy!

Still you are blessed, compared with me!
The present only touches you:
But oh! I backward cast my eye,
On prospects dreary!
And forward, though I cannot see,
I guess and fear!

Burns, Robert, To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough

Shade of the Tree

The farmer goes out with his seed

Which he buries gently underground

In a soil giving all its need

Way beyond where it can be found

Tomorrow when you pass by

May not notice the farmer’s effort

It is hidden to the naked eye

You may think that the seed is not

Days and weeks turn into months

A small shoot can finally be seen

Hardly different from the other plants

Could be the maize, pea or the bean

Months turn to years and into decade

Who cannot tell this is a mighty tree?

The difference now clearly distinguished

Does it not stand plain for all to see?

It’s been worth the effort and long wait

For we can now rest under its shade

In its cool breeze we can also sit

Celebrate its beauty that will not fade

Coast Guard

I am a coast guard
By the shore I stand
Believe my word
For I've sight of oceans deep

The seas look calm
The waters still and warm
And though it seems like there's no harm
The undercurrents could harbour a storm

You'll therefore do well to heed
My word which you greatly need
My insight which to safety leads
My wisdom that lives saves.

The TO Lessons

To manage time and money
To control thoughts and words
To subdue appetites
To school feelings
To overcome temptations

The TO lessons you have taught me

Is Zero Nothing

No.15 commutes to Lang’ata; 105 to Kikuyu 
If I boarded One Five, instead of One Zero Five 
Would I get to my destination? 
If not, is zero nothing?

My boss pays me peanuts; to keep me alive 
If he added a zero to my annual pay 
It would increase ten fold 
If so, is zero nothing?


Companies are in cut-throat competition 
A gain in market share; is a loss to the other 
It’s a zero sum game 
Then, is zero nothing?


When it is winter and temperatures drop to zero 
Would you feel cold, or would you feel nothing 
If you would feel cold, is zero nothing?


We can talk about it all day; and write endlessly
But this is what I'm zeroing in on: 
Is zero nothing?