Intwasa Poetry

My Daughter

Albert Nyathi My Daughter When I demand That you be home before dark every day I, my daughter, do not hate you dear I am merely trying to protect you From the claws of tigers That love to feast in the dark From the panting leopards Stalking like ghosts Almost ready to leap at you I am merely trying to protect you From hungry lions silently eyeing you Licking their lips Ready to pounce on you From the jumpy jumpy monkeys That move from tree to tree From branch to branch Without any particular base I am trying to protect you From the proud peacocks That love to show off bales of dollars And pound sterling notes To their victims like you 26 When I say Be home before dark every day I am merely trying To protect you, dear From the trumpeting elephants That love party times in the depth of the night From scaly crocodiles Whose mouths are always open wide To welcome any visitor wandering about In search of greener pastures in the dark I am trying to protect you From the seemingly innocent porcupine That will rip your heart apart Before you even reach its soul, From jackals Whose business it is to ensure Innocent souls like you Live ever to regret all their lives I am trying to protect you From giraffes that look down on you And will take you on Right from the top Down to the bottom From the puff adder whose tongue is always sweet With venom I am merely being dutiful as a father It is my duty to protect you From black mambas that hate to miss a target From the hyenas whose mouths are always watering I am trying to protect you dear daughter 27 From the concerned social doctors Who are only ready to operate on you Deep in the secret of the night They all want to win your heart, And remember the python preys on its victim By changing colours O, those rainbow colours Aren’t they beautiful? But remember they all are meant To rip your heart apart! Daughter, take heed, darkness has no eyes. 28 ...