The owls hoot nearby;
The screech-owl calls;
The wolves howl in the distance;
The beetles tap and tap in an endless charade
The cicada seems like it won't give up clinging to the trees; its eyes looks lovely
The bush dog barks incessantly;
The squirrels stare inquisitively at me from the comforts of the fever tree
The ants make merry inside the whistling thorns, they seem happy as they make music
I can see the sunset now; like a baby it must sleep to awaken the next day.
I also want to sleep, but the ominous sound of fear; fear of the unknown; fear of being killed by an animal keeps my eyes wide awake but my mind slumbers
The enormous baobabs converge on me, forming a protective shield but why do I still feel insecure?
How did I find my way here? How did I get here?
I can't remember what had brought me here!
I need to go home but where is home?
I'm lost at night in a forest overgrown
I keep on walking; destination unknown; my fate have been decided
Thickets of bush engulf me;
Can hardly see anything now, it's dark yet I'm still trekking
I'm thirsty and hungry;
My legs ache, I don't want to walk anymore — just to sleep
I can hear a rattlesnake closeby;
The sound is getting closer; closer to me
How do I run? Where do I run to?
I'm walking faster now; the thought of food and thirst overtaken by the will to survive
The blackbirds are whistling now,
Calling me home, showing me the way home,
I must follow to please our kindred spirits;
My ancestors have finally smiled on me
I can see mom preparing the firewood for cooking outside the house
When she looked up to me and smiled, I knew I was home; safe and sound
I don't want to be in the forest anymore!
Favour! Favour! , my mom calls.
I stifled a yawn;
Alas! It was only a dream.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem