Short Kraal Poems

Hyena
tired and hungry
cried loudly near kraal
saw little hope for a meal
prayed...

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Fire in neighborhood
makes you no victim
rejoice, laugh, feast
if you are the bull
in the kraal, a ram
the rest cows, sheep
what makes you sad?
joyfully, scatter your lips
that was carelessness
of the neighbor...

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Fire in neighborhood
makes you no victim
rejoice, laugh, feast
if you are the bull, ram
in the kraal fenced
the rest cows, sheep
what makes you sad?
joyfully, scatter your lips
take an extra bottle
that was carelessness
of the neighbor...

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Deaf bull sired calves
calves grew and sired blind calves	

Blind calves grew and sired calves
they grew and sired dump calves

Dump calves and sired calves
they grew and sired foolish calves

Foolish calves grew and sired calves
they grew and sired kraal of calves

and the green valley was filled up
deaf, blind, dump, foolish bulls and cows...

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Yesterday, 
when jingles clanged into your compound
Directly from my papa's kraal
Were you not the young woman
Who later swore to stick in sadness, joy and...?

And today,
As we walk out of divorce court
Do you smile
When our children give us torn looks?

Today, and yes, today
For tomorrow is misty
Ahem! Why can't we just forget,
That this is a scar that only the grave will heal?...

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To my friends and family

You are the ones who let me in
When I need an Inn
Even when I have to stay in a kraal
You will still make that call
On this day of joy and love
I wish you happiness
As described by the beatitudes
Happiness that blossoms in any weather
Outgrowing weeds lashed together
Another day will follow this day
I pray the spirit with stay this way
Merry Christmas...

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Silence stormed the house
As he entered with empty calabash
With its mouth facing the ground
And he could tell from the faces
Unanswerable stream of questions
Of those gathered to scoop soup
Whoever washed his feet at dawn;
Cleaned the face with calabash water
To pay visit to the sage’s kraal
And came back with empty calabash
With hands dangling like bull’s tail
Closed ancestors’ toothless mouths
Yawning to drink imaginary milk...

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Image of South Africa Cape Town Table provided by Pixabay

Token Steps 


Ruling winds the austral buttes naked slopes ...

                   as vortex smoky rise aloft Zulu's kraal
            Clans in circular indlu huts enclosing round
                   all women famous to craft their beads
           while getting set for tomorrows Reed Dance
                   a trait of Zulu armistice Nguni extends

Bestill, war drums eve chants Shaka's hopes ...


2021 May 29...

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