Lost In the Thick, Dark Forest

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.