forest songs
Published: 27 May 2021
This poem is based on traditional folklore of the little bird (tsenzi) which ancient travellers relied on to escape deep forests when they were lost.
This poem was written for MIDEQ Work Package 5 who are looking at intermediaries, agents of the migration process. It is based on traditional folklore of the little bird (tsenzi) which ancient travellers relied on to escape deep forests when they were lost.
This poem and other work can be found on the MIDEQ website.
as travellers strive
from origin to destiny
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
in familiar landscape
or don't know the way
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
tired and hungry
worried and thirsty
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
as different truths
fight over her name
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
a medium
connecting to other worlds
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
from ancient times
travellers have known
there's a little bird
who sings the forest
By Tawona Sitholé
Research Associate, University of Glasgow, MIDEQ Work package 11
MIDEQ is funded by the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) [Grant Reference: ES/S007415/1]
First published: 27 May 2021
- MIDEQ
- Download: Calabash commentaries: forest song PDF