David Ration Lekoba Poems

Listen Africa listen!
Listen to the words of a stallion
Listen as I speak of a giant,
An African giant
...

If I were you I would be prouder than death
To know my place before hand, a gain
Why wouldn’t I use my name again and again
To gain the treasures of this world?
...

Dreaming back through life,
Your time-and mine...
I'm in a fix And you are out,
Death let you out,
...

Kgadiapetsa wena moganganyane wa ga mma seipitseng
E seng gongwe wa tloga wa ikgoela di sa goiweng
Morakaladi le monyenyo wa tshelo jwa Setswana
Batho ka na ke raya motho a tshabetse monyo
...

Now that you are here
Now that I have seen you
How come I have nothing for you?
Now that you are here
...

I am empty inside
My will to live is dim
My flesh has no power and
My spirit is crushed.
...

For what is choice
When choice is none?
To make belief
My ballot to win
...

Better it is to have never tasted
For I have tasted the sweet fountain waters
And by the rich river bank basked my barks in winter
Better it is to have never tasted
...

Is my name so obvious?
Is my name so written all over me?
When potbellied men undress me from afar
And boys uncouth mistake me for a dog
...