You'd have robbed the world of a prolific poet,
not simply a poor petty pet.
You'd have robbed the world of an ardent artist,
not merely an artificial article -
if you'd kill me.
If you'd kill me
you'd have taken away the people's budding bard,
A bard that shoots up gently like a blooming bud,
A bud that lies lofty like a protester's placard,
A placard that none dares discard,
Thus, if you'd kill me.
If you'd try to silence me
it would be like trying to gag a bonny bee
of the forest that sings and flies about
with no feeling of fear or deep doubt
about its survival in doom or drought,
or even war which wears nature's soul out;
It will not hearken to your claptrap - that buzzing, beautiful bee,
SO, you see: you may never silence me
without first killing me!
If, on earth, you'd kill me
you'd have cut off the big fig twig
that gives shelter to you and your pig,
You'd have eliminated an open-minded,
an open-hearted and open-handed
and a gifted entertainer-cum-counsellor.
You'd have annihilated a protest poet's mountain
and - simultaneously - polluted a praise singer's fountain.
You'd have removed a third of the sky
And, then, tears and terrific, tormenting trouble would forever dwell in your wild wild eye!
Comfort Ndlovu
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/if-you-d-kill-me/
