Brian's Creative Quill

A darkness fell upon Manyatseng,   The people bowed their heads in despair.   Cries of anguish echoed through the streets,   While knives flashed, slicing the heavy air.   The city slept beneath a veil of sorrow,   A gunshot pierced the silence of the night.   Boys played at being bulls, reckless and wild—   To whom shall I cry, I, a child of men?   To whom shall I plead, trapped in this endless night?   The people of this land are ruled by iron,   And the women wept, their voices frail.   Their tears fell heavy, mourned by the boys,   The boys who claimed to master the tale.   I held my head and wandered on,   I wandered, seeking the lion's lair—   A hidden lion that stalks my flesh,   You are lost, Manyatseng, lost to despair!   ©Author Brian Makara 2025

I looked at my family and felt the weight,   Hunger lingered as we faced our fate.   My shoes withered beneath my weary tread,   You, my scorn, became love instead.   The world despised me, and sadness grew,   I wandered aimlessly, with no clear view.   Up and down, I searched for a way,   Depression haunted me every day.   Suffering etched deep lines in my life,   Cutting sharper than the blade of a knife.   But when the sun rose, it brought new light,   The earth honored me, shining bright.   You, my money, became my friend,   A bond that helped my struggles end.   I became a hero, my smile restored,   Walking paths I’d only dreamed before.   You, my hope, became my guide,   In your embrace, my fears subside.   Hunger faded, life began to believe,   And joy returned to the heart of me.   ...