A poem by Jacob Daniël du Toit

the guinea fowl

The barrow with its groaning wheel

gives out its mournful squeal

while dusk lets fall its sudden cowl:

the guinea fowl.

It’s seeking – though the hour is late –

another fowl as mate

to pass night’s loneliness maybe

up in a tree.

They’ll share a dogwood’s leafy gleam,

half sleep, half wake, half dream,

and when their ending then draws nigh

alone not die.

*

I’ve taken aim, and at the sound

one’s fallen to the ground;

the other with wild strength takes flight

into the night!

To see the original poem, go to here