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The Society of Malaŵi Journal

GEORGE SHEPPERSON

Felix Mnthali

It says in The Times,
that we first met
in the jungles of war
fighting for a realm
from which we too
would struggle to be free

In that war we were
officers and men
of a royal regiment;
we were the men and
you were our officer

It also says in The Times
that after that war
you gave up the study of literature
to delve into the annals of power
of slavery and colonialism
and of the struggles for freedom

Was it here perhaps that we met again?
We had shared with you
our stories, our songs and our dances
which you loved and kept
what other treasures do soldiers share?

But now I can see
you gave us more than you took from us;
you dug into our struggle for freedom
and exhumed John Chilembwe
the icon of our struggles
the forerunner of our modernity

Your wars also left us a legacy
infused into our dances
the gyrations and quick steps
of officers and men on the march:
"mganda"
"malipenga"
above all "beni" and "honara"
whose pride and elegance
take us not to the jungles
of death and destruction but to the glory
of victories and joy.
George
"Sam"
Shepperson,
FAREWELL.

Felix Mnthali is a former Professor of English, Gaberone, University of Botswana.

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