These hands by Nosisa Ngwata

These small hands
Will protect you
Like a son protects
His mother
His siblings

These skinny hands
Will protect you
From his abusive words
From his flying fists
From his evil temper

These punny hands
Will protect you
They will shield you
And keep you safe
From his filthy groping hands

These dainty hands
Will always protect you
They will hold you
And comfort you
Wipe all your tears

These are only
Small hands
Of a small boy
But my responsibility
Is to protect you

But with these skinny hands
I cover my face and cry
As daddy’s hard blows
Strike my mother
I wonder…what have I done to upset daddy?

Nosisa Ngwata is a writer and poetees. She hails from Ilitha township in Eastern Cape. She has published two short stories with Drum Magazine and a poem in the love anthology book, We are Poetry.