The Tikoloshe [3] Poem by Gert Strydom

Outside something sneaks around during the dark moon
and it comes nearer and nearer and stands still
when the voice of a child calls in the distance
and I imagine it’s already on the porch.
At the window I see red eyes gleaming,
it looks as if something from hell wants to climb in,
I hear it walk around the house
and it pushes and bumps against the kitchen door.
The yard is full of fear and him
when in terror every child wants to run away
but evil comes nearer and still nearer
and a kind of alarm comes with him.
Outside there is the smell of sulphur and fire,
in the distance a bell counts off midnight,
somewhere a woman yells from pain and fear
and suddenly everything is silent and it is pitch dark
when only a shadow moves past
and disappear into the depths of the narrow alley way.