He Knows No Hospital Gate Poem by Mohamedkhadar Yussuf

He moves from one hotel to another in search of food; food that has been left by customers,
food that has been thrown in to the dustbin.
He knows it is his comfy and only available food.
He empties all the food content in the bin to his waiting paper bag
with no fear of diseases, poison, or anything.
He walks away whistling happily knowing that his stomach will
receive a visitor, a harmless visitor.
He eats the food with all the bad smell, with all the dirt inside.
Yet the street urchin is healthy and knows no hospital gate.


He goes around in search of water; water to quench his thirst
and to wash his dark, rough face.
He knows getting good water from a good source is a far-fetched dream;
and that is why he goes to the nearest mtaro, goes on all four
and drinks without considering the nature, source and the smell of water.
Yet the street urchin is healthy and knows no hospital gate.


He moves from one building to another in search of a verandah.
Any. Big, small, rough, cold, warm. He settles for the first that
he sees without considering the weather.
He uses his sacks as a bed, as a bed sheet and as a blanket.
Yet the street boy is healthy and knows no hospital gate.