THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

 


Poem by Dominic Kariuki Njumbi*


The Unknown Soldier

War broke out, and all were called to fight.
Young and naïve he stood,
Fear tightening around his tender throat—
Yet patriotism spoke louder.
Thus marched the unknown soldier.

“Why must peace be born of war?”
He wondered,
His plea falling on deadened ears.
“March!” — that was the order.
And so he fought without understanding,
The unknown soldier.

He gave his blood, his sweat, his all,
Yet no one ever knew his name.
Fate turned its face away—
The enemy claimed him,
And they called him
The unknown soldier.

The old declare the war,
The young go forth and die.
And when peace finally dawns,
Those who bore its cost
Are remembered only as
The unknown soldiers.

* Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Public Health. He can be contacted at: 0706304671.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WOMBS FOR RENT; THE DARK SIDE OF SURROGACY

Image
  AI Generated Image ‘ A long time ago there were a king and queen who said every day, ‘Ah, if only we had a child… .’ Thus begins the original tale of Sleeping Beauty, in which supernatural forces grant the King and Queen’s deepest desire, and cause a curse to befall them, all in the same breath. Such is the fate that confronts many a couple, when biological reasons hinder them from having a child. You see, there is something profound in having children. It speaks to something deep within us, the incredible desire to create life, to pass on our stories, our love, our legacy. So much so that in the good book, God gives man an explicit command to ‘ Go forth, be frutful, multiply and fill the earth ’. [1] But what happens when your body has other plans? It raises tough questions, doesn't it? Is having a child something we're entitled to, a fundamental right? Or is it one of life's precious gifts that some of us might have to find different ways to embrace? These questio...
Read more

NO WORKER LEFT BEHIND; RECLAIMING LABOR RIGHTS IN BANGLADESH BEYOND MAY DAY

Image
 Image by Markus Winkler from Pexels Every year, on May 1st, workers throughout Bangladesh march under the red solidarity flags to celebrate International Workers' Day along with the whole world. Traditionally marked with rallies, songs, and speeches, May Day commemorates the continuous struggle for decent labor, dignity, and justice. But behind the symbolism is a somber truth: for most Bangladeshi laborers, particularly those working in informal, unregulated, and emerging industries, the promises of May Day in which labor rights are adhered to still remain ineffective. In 2025, the celebration assumes an even more added meaning. At a time of political change and the unveiling of a landmark Labour Reform Commission report submitted to Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus on 21 st April 2025, the moment is opportune to revisit workers' rights not only in the factory, but throughout all areas of work; from home to cyberspace, from rural fields to distant shores and from agriculture to ricksh...
Read more

DIAMONDS IN THE DIRT: THE COST OF FREE SPEECH

Image
                                                          Image on Google Human beings are the pre-eminent social animal on the planet, and we depend on our ability to communicate with others for survival and success. Speech allows us to express our ideas and our viewpoints on different subject matters, and reach a consensus on how to navigate this complex and ever-changing world. It is against this backdrop that national and international law guarantee the right to freedom of expression, to seek and impart knowledge and ideas in numerous forms. The justifications for freedom of expression are relatively straightforward: free discussion allows citizens to be exposed to a range of ideas, resulting in better judgements and thereafter tangible economic benefits. Further, curtailing freedom of expression is an infringement on the individual’s aut...
Read more