The Jaguar

Shinning black, wading through the long grass

The jungle shudders wherever it passes

It has on occasion clawed the air to shreds

So thick was it with tension 

None off the other eyes in the night

Will meet its flaming gaze

Even from a distance

Even in their dreams it stalks them

They have heard the cracking bones

Of their friends and lovers and children

And left them to die screaming

And become new nightmares

Quietly the jaguar sleeps on a branch

Its tail a loop beneath it

A noose to any challenger

 

Published by

Troydon

Troydon Wainwright is a philosopher and Reiki Master based in Cape Town. Born with mild cerebral palsy and dyslexia, Toydon learnt to write as a way to overcome the barriers his dyslexia placed in front of him. “I wrote my way out of dyslexia,” said Troydon, “or at least to the point where reading and writing aren’t a problem anymore.” During the day he works as an educational facilitator (someone who helps special needs students cope academically and become more independent). At night he dedicates his time to writing. He has won a Nova award for his short story, The Sangoma’s Storm, and been a feature poet at the Off the Wall poetry readings in Cape Town and at Cape Town Central Library. Three of his poems were also included in the anthology Africa’s Best New Poets. He has also been published in the South African Literary journal, New Contrast. One of his Facebook posts, in which he took a stand against racism, has gone viral (http://www.troydonwainwright.com/when-love-went-viral/).

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