Whilst our children
Become smaller than guns,
Elders become big
Circus Lions
Away from home.
Whilst the manes age
In the Zoos
That now our homelands
Have become,
Markets of leftovers,
Guns are taller
Than our children.
In the beggarhood
Of a Circus
That now is home,
The whip of the Ringmaster
Cracks with a snap
That eats through
The backs of our being.
Hands stretching
In a prayer
Of submission
In a beggarhood
Of Elders delicately
Performing the tightrope
To amuse the Gate
For Tips
That will bring home
Toys of death.
Terrible truths, universally applicable, but more brutally and devastatingly so in Africa; expressed unflinchingly with great economy.
I love this poem, it was one of my favorite back then at secondary school.
Pathetic condition and the plight of the oppressed who are ruled at gun point has been narrated in an admirable clarity and anguish. A
Circus entertainer circus by the animals with technical toys but some day the livelihood comes with joy and some day with sorrow it's true the terrible death is hidden in the entertaining toys...............
Powerful, deeply poignant and moving poem. Superb images.
While the manes age in the zoos That now are homelands Have become. A pathetic picture of the plight of people whose homeland has been subjugated forcibly. A great poem.
Some powerful images here, guns taller then children, homelands markets of leftovers. Provocative and haunting, glad this is a poem of the day.
The hidden side of life depicted with force and sincerity. Well deserved modern poem of the day.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
The bitter truth. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing.