The Dark Night

South African army massacres civilians in Lesotho, 1982.

THE DARK NIGHT

Birds sing sweet songs
Trees dance to the music
Winds help with background
Mountains smile, impressed

The night was dark and still
Everyone sleeps peacefully
Father, mother, daughter and son
All dreaming of their future

Soldiers arm and helicopters fill with fuel
Guns load and bombs prepare
Hand grenades like fish in the sea
All ready to destroy innocent people

A bloody night explodes sleep
Bullets rip through innocent bodies
Bombs destroy people’s house
Hand grenades shred delicate flesh

Cries and groans are heard
Helpless, innocent people dying
With no one to aid the wounded
As they die at the hands of the enemy

The enemy with brutal fists
To crush black faces to the ground
The enemy with a cold stone heart
Must remove heat for the light of freedom


By,
Nambitha Mpumlwana