HANDCUFFS by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali

Handcuffs

have steel fangs

whose bite is more painful 

than a whole battalion

of fleas.'

Though the  itch in my heart 

grows deeper and deeper 

I cannot scratch.

How can I?

my wrists

are manacled 

My mind

is caged.

My soul 

is shackled.

I can only grimace at the ethereal cloud,

a banner billowing in the sky, emblazoned 

'Have hope, brother,

despair is for the defeated.'