The Cock & The Crow (Poem: iJusi #6, 1997)
The Cock & The Crow (Poem):
an ode to the downtrodden
Cock-a-doodle-doo
said the cock to the crow
while sitting in the sun on his stoep.
Hey diddle-diddle
said the crow to the cock
and picked another scrap from the step.
“What a great morning
beheld before us,”
said the cock through his smooth golden beak.
“It depends how high up
the stairs you are standing
to check of what you gleefully speak.
“From here I see only
scraps before me,
all your loose-ends and dry looking wors.
“For it's you, my broer,
who loves to mock
those stukkend, and broken or worse.
“How upright you stand
with your plume in the air,
all colours all radiant and bright.
“Yet, here I slum,
begging and screaming
so loud and very contrite.
“Only to be
cursed or ignored,
whichever you feel I deserve.
“You look at my coat,
black and downtrodden,
and inside you know it's perverse
“Perverse because
I feed off your scraps
to keep you all safe and tight.
“Yes, you know it,
it makes you feel kief
when you're all warm in bed late at night.”
“You ungrateful bastard!!
I’ll peck out your eyes
and you'll see who's tougher than who.”
“Such violent words,
but you won't even touch me.
You’ll shiver when I say “Boo!”
“You can't leave that spot, cuz,
it's your security.
You won't enter my domain.
“You’re scared you'll lose
what you think you have got,
that being riches and fame.
“But I have got
what you don't got…”
“A big beak and a sly looking eye?!”
“No, my broer,
it’s bigger than that.
It’s bigger than a vark se sty.
“Here’s a thought,
my ignorant cock.
A feather your plumage makes?”
“Yep.”
“Now when it does plummet
from that fine coat,
oh how it my breath away takes.
“By mere twist of air
and jiggle of blubber
it has now left your kingdom,
to drift around
aimlessly seeking
that wonderful thing I call freedom.
Featured in iJusi Issue #6 "V8 Power" 1997
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| Cover: iJusi Issue #6 |
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| Stephen's double page spread design and poem. |
