On Fear by Sipho Sepamla for days we were run on fear a fear of the unknown we would turn day and night around only to find fear stares us in the eye those were the days when we walked through dense suspense fearing the rustle of trees even for leaves have been known to be ears those days fear spun us around her finger unleashing us at will tightening the grip unfeelingly at night each footfall in the yard was a cold treading on our souls each knock on the door a hammering on our spirits at the height of the detentions whispered conversations marked our associations for we heard of gruelling interrogations where vulgar words like unbridled horses galloped one after another from lips brutalized by abuse we heard of searing screams inhuman proceedings being legalized articles our comfort then was in the thought that fear is all-pervasive burrowing here today and there tomorrow like a mole and as we swear to loathe fear it is our belief we'll yet triumph over all fear.