MY STRUGGLE

I am the only one of my kind

In the whole universe

I am indifferent to sufferings

Because I had difficult childhood

Two individuals owe me apology

And I want to make it crystal clear

That as far as I continue

To live in this world of being

I will not revenge my suffering

I have come to understand

Things not better understood

By my elders

I am not out to give credence to my scheme

But I’m out to make points clear

The iron is hit that must be used

Or current will flow out for nothing

Things will always go wrong 

For two individuals who owe me

Why should I always dance

Up and down y own for my things to done

Copyright © 2003 Ngehndab Delphine Gwanvalla

CATHERINE 

She was a little of age

And had to travel

To the Journey beyond

But she never complained

I wonder whether she loved

The journey that is beyond

It was cockcrow in the morning

And the rains fell torrentially

She had nobody to fetch her water

She got up and gathered water

From the torrential rain that night

When she was done with it,

She went back to sleep

The little boy who slept with her

Struggled to get her up

Since he wanted to urinate

But he offered not a word

The boy threatened to pee on bed

But grandma laid still muttering not

The little buy knew something

Was amiss with grandma.

He got down the bed

To alert the neighbors

He got to the nearest one

And said I am getting

Grandma and she

Is not responding

To him, grandma was sleeping

But she had died

Copyright © 2003 Ngehndab Delphine Gwanvalla

FAREWELL

It is the wish of the creator

To call you wherever you are

We’ll always think of you

With the solemn heart

That you always taught us

To give to others during sunset

May the Almighty as he

Has given and taken away,

Protect you and all those

Who have been called by him

To his Holy presence

We pray that you look on us

With that childlike heart

Forgive us our past wrongs

And give the courage

To be able to surmount difficulties

The type you portrayed

Show us the way to lead

An exemplary life as you did

Always simple and good

Always pious and gentle

Always happy and thoughtful

Always giving and teaching

Always loving and caring

Even when one pricks hard

Farewell to the journey

You have undertaken

Prepare a path for those

Still left behind to fare in your path

 Copyright © 2003 Ngehndab Delphine Gwanvalla

MY STEPBRO

When I was sick

And dying my stepbrother

Did not bother

A pinch about me

While I was vomiting

And almost dead

My step bro. heard

And closed his door

I vomited hard and painfully

My stepbrother heard my struggle

And stayed tranquilized

I was so worried

About my stay at home

Because only my mum cared

M y stepbrother brought his child

He brought his son but

And his own sister did not care

But I cared so much

And sat on a cushion

And I asked myself why care

When the father did not care

For me when I was sick

And almost dying.

I was sick

And took a drug

That could kill me

But I did not die

I did not eat

So I could die

 And did not drink

But I did not die

I regarded life

As worthless

And I did not cherish it

But God wanted me to

See the value of life

He wanted me to live in it

Een if I was dying

And no one was around to care

He was always there

Not letting me die

When I thought

I was useless and worthless