Protected by the mountains <br />and covered by bushes <br />the ruin of an old farmhouse stands, <br />where the shadow <br />of the past <br />still falls heavy and menacing. <br /> <br />Lulling the old black house maid Amakeia <br />rocked the baby of a white pioneer <br />softly to sleep <br />and she was faithful <br />to her promise, <br />to try and raise the child. <br /> <br />When she discovered <br />that danger was sneaking nearer, <br />she went to hide <br />in the mountains <br />with the baby. <br /> <br />As the dark night came <br />the assegais rattled <br />against the shields <br />of a horde of Maxosas, <br />that jeered like animals <br />and gathered around the woman and child. <br /> <br />No pleading could stop the blades <br />where the woman with her body <br />tried to protect the child <br />and the wild savage war gang, <br />speared the woman and child <br />again and again. <br /> <br />When the winter wind cries in the Amatola cliffs <br />no devil can still hide there <br />and the song <br />of the old woman <br />cuts right trough marrow and bone, <br />while she sings <br />for the child to be silent <br />and the murder of woman and child <br />still hits right through <br />a nation of savages. <br /> <br />[Reference: Amakeia by A.G. Visser. An incident during 1834 war. Assegai = A spear.]<br /><br />Gert Strydom<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/amakeia/
