A journey too far by Garikai Nhongo

He watched as others walked before him,
He had tried but couldn't keep up with them,
He would have to travel alone,
At his own pace with the others gone,
His feet were heavy as if chained to an anvil,
He could only drag them through the gravel,
He couldn't turn back now,
He had to go forward somehow.

What he left behind was certain death,
He had to move forward even with his last breath,
Beyond the Limpopo lay his only chance,
Africa's Danube with its imposing stance,
Home is the place he left behind
Hope is the place he keeps in his mind.
He leans against a tree to get some rest,
He won't give up, he'll try his best.

They've been walking a day longer than a day,
Twice they seem to have lost their way.
Two collapsed and more went back,
He prays that they found the right track back,
Soon, they'll cross the crocodile river,
There the dark cloud must show its lining of silver,
He hopes the future is worth a journey so far,
For certainly it may be a journey too far.