Galago Moholi (Bushbabies)

I am a Black Mamba. I rise before dawn,
pull on my boots and camo fatigues
to go to work. I walk unarmed
among the wild animals--
lion and cheetah, rhino and elephant,
giraffe and African antelope.
I drive the old jeep over rutted roads.

I am a young woman and Best Mother.
At night, I tell stories to my bushbabies
of poisoning at the waterholes,
of roadblocks and bushmeat poachers,
of patrols by first and last light.
When I am scared, I think of them
and their future. I must protect Nature.

We are women. We can Be More.
Mothers and sisters and wives,
carers and teachers, we are also policewomen,
heroes in our community. Together
we sweep the Reserve for traps and snares.
We have pride and dignity
and our lipstick is always on straight.
 

(First published in Valiant Scribe Literary Journal, Vultures & Doves: Social Issues of Our Time Issue 2, December 2021)
Reference: https://www.blackmambas.org/