The trail of happiness
We the unhappy shall not drink peace
from a cup of beer, iced whisky
or nyama choma, Or;
sleep it in a springing bed
but, it shall be in the dressing of wounds
not in a handshake,
in Epictetus, Freud or Nietzsche
Nor tomorrow, nor now nor in dreams,
nor in fame
like yesterday in meditations
but in the decanting of bile
shall we find happiness
we shall find love
On a door mat, in muddy shoes
in a shared bereavement
from a father’s tears
in a child’s singing
in a wife’s hymn
we shall pluck forgiveness.
*nyama choma: roast beef
Moses Abukutsa is a Kenyan writer who writes poetry and fiction. He writes from Busia in Western Kenya. Moses studied English and Literature. Abukutsa is also a High School teacher and plays armature tennis. He has published online with Kalahari review, Praxis, African Writer, Kikwetu, Afritondo and khusoko.com an East African Online Business platform.