ON THE ROAD

so you have decided
decided to be on the road
the road to self expression
the road to your own story
the road with many hazards

so you have decided
decided to be on a collision course
with those armed with bitter prescriptions
who will tell you what song to sing
who will label your voice discordant
have you made up your mind

go to malawi and ask jack mapanje
go to mzansi and ask mzwakhe mbuli
ask rushdie of the death penalty
ask chenjerai hove or george mujajati
they may show you the way

so you have decided really
to travel along this road
littered with many pitfalls
this road that may lead to jail
that is if you are lucky
a road that may lead to the morgue

do not say i did not warn you
that they are already salivating
ready to pounce and bring forth
bring forth a deathly silence
let out a socratic laugh and drink hemlock
there you will find your immortality