All Against, And All Opposing Poem by Nkululeko Mdudu

I'm living in captivity,
Like you wouldn't believe.
They were saying this to me:
'There's no escape; but
anytime you can leave'

So tell me, what is a man to do,
When cornered by bitter old women?
Never should he use his fists!
should he use his words then?

I am not a man fully,
I am still a boy,
But if words are warriors for me,
Then I will destroy!

One thing is certain,
And one thing is clear:
I shall make them regret, ;
Every single minute of this year.

Oh everything is so clean,
But their hearts are filthy.
They managed a ceasefire with each other
Only to turn guns against me.

So finally there was a confrontation,
Finally the madam spoke.
Trembling as I was with fury,
She can be glad the chains never broke.

It was apparent to me right then,
And at that moment;
I felt laughter un-wrung,
It was funny to see
how short she really was;
Once she let out
all the noise from their lungs.

Still I was paralysed,
By the Iron ball on my back,
So I lifted eyes
and embraced my chains,
And with them;
I started swinging back.