Aloo Denish Obiero

Not Money, Not Everything

They lived in a different era, in a different area,

Not today, and never in our cities,

And so they drew a conclusion,

That money is not everything. Right.

 

I live in this era, in this area,

Today, and in these cities,

And behold, a thing so strange:

The newest disability is lack of money. Right.

 

Today, in this cities, if you can’t have money: ‎

You can’t eat, for money is food; ‎

You can’t drink, for money is water; ‎

You can’t dress, for money is clothing; ‎

You can’t find refuge, for money is shelter.

 

‎Today, in these cities, if you have no money: ‎

You have no space, for money occupies space; ‎

You have no voice, for money speaks; ‎

You have no right, for money has might;

‎You have no peace, for money commands comfort.

 

Today, in these cities, if you don\'t have money:

You don\'t study, for education costs money;

You don\'t know, for information costs money;

You don\'t communicate, for airtime costs money;

You don\'t matter, for money matters.

 

Today, in these cities, if you won\'t have money: ‎

You won\'t move, for transport requires money; ‎

You won\'t bathe, for bathroom requires money; ‎

You won\'t poop, for toilet requires money;

‎You won\'t pee, for restroom requires money.

 

No money, no food,

No food, no health,

No health, no life.

Thus, in these cities: no money, no life.

 

No money, no hospital,

No hospital, no medication,

No medication, no life.

Thus, in these cities: no money, no life.

 

No money, no shelter,

No shelter, no security,

No security, no life.

Thus, in these cities: no money, no life.

 

No money, no voice,

No voice, no right,

No right, no life.

Thus, in these cities: no money, no life.

 

So it was, then and there:

Not money, not everything.

And it is, now and here:

No money, no everything.