Joy Says Come To Me And Lets Go Dancing Poem by Sarah Mkhonza

I heard a song that led me down the alley.
When I got there there was a rivulet and
A pool of water that had little black
Insects jetting this way and that and
They said joy called me here so that we
Can dance.

I did not know how to dance and they said
They would whistle and I would have to
Join them and make a sound and together
We would play in this water like we did
When I was young.

I cherish the days of such joy for it just
Came without the pressures that have come
To scoop away joy out of my hands that remain
Cupped as if to receive a substance unknown
To me.

When I am reminded how to jump and climb a tree
That is out there in the yard or dash along
This rivulet where we scooped out clay and made
Cows with real horns with the mud that we did
Not pay for I feel a tear roll down for it tells
Me that is where I left joy and decided not to
Dance when the sun goes down.

I pick up the tune from the whistle of these
Dashing little insects and go into the ripple
They cause as they dash along and find deep in
Me a fountain similar to this one and then start
To sing along and dance once more. So small is
The voice of joy when it calls me to dance. It
Is almost as inaudible as now.