Cries and weeping. My life long
I have heard them cry.
Can't take it any longer.
An untrodden way by the river
dense wood by the path
Cries waft across them
Who is it that cries?
I have seen my mother cry. And my neighbours.
Crying, they make others cry.
These I have witnessed
I have seen a woman cry
in the verandah of our school
I was kid in the second form then
One of the two khaki-clad men
had scooped up a soiled, torn blouse
with the end of his rod.
I didn't understand a thing
I do not know yet what many cries mean
Or the mystery behind many others
A twenty one year old young woman
was to traipse along the college road
laughing out loud and merrily
A kid with slate under his arm
was to walk past, running to a tune
But they cry
Cries and cries
My life long have I heard them cry
I don't like it all.
On his perched earth
this is sheer profligacy. [PA]