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