Daybreak
by Jamie Gallo
The eagle sweeps the
African sky
the beautiful white
tail sweeps, too
Man praises his
two black,
too beautiful
deep-set eyes
and his rows of
killer nails
He follows the
monkey to the leaves at
the top of the coveted trees;
he always dies last
The Man’s housewife
sweeps floors at
home and smiles
to him; always
sweeping
with laughter
Cheeks,
skin,
teeth
bared to him
A ragged,
embroidered gown
full of lice
He follows
he abuses you
both his greed and war
Alone we live
survive
and die
Death follows
Death will
invite you in
African sky
the beautiful white
tail sweeps, too
Man praises his
two black,
too beautiful
deep-set eyes
and his rows of
killer nails
He follows the
monkey to the leaves at
the top of the coveted trees;
he always dies last
The Man’s housewife
sweeps floors at
home and smiles
to him; always
sweeping
with laughter
Cheeks,
skin,
teeth
bared to him
A ragged,
embroidered gown
full of lice
He follows
he abuses you
both his greed and war
Alone we live
survive
and die
Death follows
Death will
invite you in
Jamie Gallo is an avid reader and a writer of both poems and short stories of various genres. She has always been fascinated with the written word and has an Honours degree in English literature.