The fire glowing at the hearth
Generated a steady flame
to light the interior of the hut
An old man and his nephew
Finished off a day!
The old men sat on a reed mat
The left leg spread along with it
On the right, he folded it
And placed the palms of his hands open
On the knee
rested his head upon them.
It was silent outside and moonless!
Wa--al, Wa--al, Wa-al
A woman moaned outside
But the wail
Went back and forth
Numerous times along the fence
The young man recognized
The strange voice!
The old man missed it
He was already dozing and snoring!
Waal, Wa-al, Wa-al
The women continued wailing
This time it was noisier
And roused the old man
The young man braved the night,
And promptly rose from the earth floor
Where he squatted
Pulled the squeaky door,
And rushed out to the back of the hut
He couldn't see anyone!
Nor locate the moaning woman
It was quiet again outside
Inviting a frightening feeling
The old man quietly followed out
And stood behind the young man
Waal waal wall
The moaning continued
They all heard it
Up and down the fence
The voice emerged from the fence!
It vigorously trembled
the three-lined barbed wire fence
A few metres from where they stood
The termite wall that coated the droppings
Must have dropped too!
In a solemn voice
The old man said
"It's her she has come again"
The old man
Went back to the but
And the young man.
Found him already dozing!


© Mounds of Dust
Ranga