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NGULUBE THE WARTHOG
I
have an issue with my tail,
which sticks up straight and, without fail,
provides great glee to Mhisi the hyena.
This ugly creature spends her days
in various irritating ways –
not least of which is mocking my demeanour.
It doesn’t matter what I try;
the tail keeps pointing at the sky
the moment I set off across the bush.
In bright sunlight or darkest gloom
it seems to be my unique doom
to be the butt of jokes about my
tush.
Mhisi and her hyena pack
are only known to attack
we warthogs when new carcasses are scarce.
So, over time and with some loss,
we hogs have learned how to be boss
when Mhisi and her scavengers get fierce.
The sound of Mhisi’s
drooling chuckle
evokes response from tail to knuckle
and starts a sense of tingling in our guts.
The strategy we’ve had to learn
is trot; then run; then twist and turn
to face the foe with curved, ferocious tusks.
Hyenas simply don’t remember
that warthogs cannot think surrender
and always seem surprised at our attack.
We charge ahead, with grunt and curse,
and force Mhisi into reverse
and thence away to join her scabby pack.
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