---

In the wee hours of the morning, I scream

reminding the farmer that it’s no longer time to dream.

Using my beak to scratch for something to eat

and when that fails, I search the soil with my feet.

The Farmer steps out to give me crumbs of feed.

I get filled with joy, not knowing one day I’ll be the meat,

you see,

he’s investing cause he knows he’s gonna get the chickens

from my womb he’s gonna get generations

that are gonna feed his generations.

I am a caged bird led to believe that I am free

How do I have the right to freedom of speech

when I can get arrested for what I choose to speak?

The farmer does not care about my dreams.

I am never encouraged to explore the skies and spread my wings

but rather lay more eggs for the farmer. 

Funny how I shouldn’t get involved in family matters.

Yet, always appeasing the ancestors.

My blood boils in sync with water 

used to pluck my feathers.

A baptism, hurting me even further.

When my eyes land on the knife,

my life flashes before my eyes,

realizing I’m the sacrifice.

By Malwande Ndlovu, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Malwande Ndlovu is a 21-year-old award-winning spoken-word performing poet, storyteller, curator, and event organizer from South Africa, Pietermaritzburg. He writes about various themes on oppression, empowerment, and resilience as well as symbolism, mythology, and spirituality.

---

---