"HOMELESS HEROES" - A POET'S TRIBUTE TO GAME RANGERS

HOMELESS HEROES

Gun-toting terrifying trespassers, have
Invaded the protected territory of endangered
Species. They are merciless in their pursuit for
Game, and killing is their aim. They are an
Incarnate of callous vikings, very ruthless on nature
And the nature of their exploits is a piercing pain
To those who nurture our environment.

Time and again, poachers and pistols are
Captured by vigilant rangers, since these offenders
Are always treating them like strangers; yet rangers
guard against the invasion of the animal kingdom fortress. The wild
Is their home, they are like gods for they have mastered
The art of cohabiting with deadly beasts.

I call them the homeless heroes, because they sacrifice their comfort
For the good course of nature conservation.
I call them the watch-towers of biodiversity, daylight and night
Makes no difference to them, their job is unconventional and different
From your 9 to 5 monotony.
I call them preachers of peace, and I so much wish that poachers
Could repent and forsake their cancerous sin of perpetuating the extinction
Of our treasured beasts.

And yes! We salute the rangers,
For they are friends with wilderness and not strangers.
We salute the soldiers,
We salute the homeless heroes.

But we... We frown upon the poachers,
For they are a fungus in the beautiful garden
Of biodiversity

By: Ntokozo Mdluli