Come and get me
Like you did my forebears
Who spoke with voice God gave
I am the voice
The revolt that’ll keep you out
The one thing you can’t ignore
I am the idler who
Gave you mandate and vacation
Answer to that childhood dream
But come and get me
Lord!
For wishing you dead
For peace sake
Find me at the graveyard
In red and black (not my fashion)
Mourning the departure of a friend
Who fell tall.
Look for me at the riverside
Where only women draw water for their homes
Helping them draw
And lift tonnes onto their battered heads.
Look for me at the market place
Beside the woman selling tomatoes
Breastfeeding her ninth babe
Whose husband had just married his eighth.
Look for me at the village square
Teaching the feeble their strength
Watching them to boo and curse their forebears
Who sold their destinies
For a place at the chancel.
Look for me where you can’t be happy but remorseful
For yesterday
And today
Misused.
Come and get me
Dare!
Come and get me
With all the power of the machinery
At your disposal
Come and get me
Lest I prevail
Thou monstrous
Shameless beast of power
Come and get me
With your guns bought by
My money
Our money
Not yours
Come and get me
To conceal your shame
Our pain
Come and get me quick
Before I stir the minds of others
I’ll be at my matchbox house
With a pen and pad
Waiting for your tanks
They say:
You’re ruthless with dissent
You’ll crush me with the full force of the state
None dares you successfully
So come and get me with
Hands adorned with protest blood
Some peace at last
I hope to find in the grave
Where I shall wait your turn
When your work is done