A darkness is sweepin across the heart of Africa:
Bolts on my door, electric barbed wire, high metallic gates, guns
it is impervious to all these
I am a business woman, a politician, a judge, an innocent bystander
I am a native of the heart of Africa
And I am not safe
It takes the shape of a man, or men
Racing by on boda bodas waving guns at me
Or breaking through the roof.
Paid faceless creatures who sometimes drill holes through my walls
Just so they can end my already miserable life
Here in the heart of Africa.
I don't feel safe
Fear grips me, I don't know if my children will be next
I walk the streets of my mother land, scared that every shadow
might be my ending
So I embrace my machete
I sleep awake, with my machete tucked under my pillow
If they catch me, at least I go down with a fight
Cause them as much hurt as they are so intent on causing me
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem