Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Chris Magadza

When I am Bigger: Ode to My Grandson

When I am Bigger: Ode to My Grandson

When I am Bigger: Ode to My Grandson

When I am bigger
I will ride the west wind
High into the clouds;
Higher than
The sky.
 
High I will ride
On the west wind,
And follow the sun
To his house
Where he sleeps.
 
I will ask his mother
What he has for dinner
After such a tiring
Journey.
 
When I am bigger
I will gallop high
With the kangaroos,
Deep into the night,
Beyond the stars.
 
Then I will ride
To the moon,
Lonely,
Sleepwalking alone
In the deep night,
Guarded by the watchful stars,
Lest she wander
Far into the dark.
 
I will hold her,
Comfort her,
And gently lead her
To her sleeping place
In the night place.
 
And in early morning
I will gather rain
From the dancing clouds,
And bring it
To the rising sun
Because he will need to drink
On his hot weary journey
High above my house.
 
Yes
When am bigger
I will do these things . . .
Because I am
Sipiwe.
Close

When I am Bigger: Ode to My Grandson

When I am bigger
I will ride the west wind
High into the clouds;
Higher than
The sky.
 
High I will ride
On the west wind,
And follow the sun
To his house
Where he sleeps.
 
I will ask his mother
What he has for dinner
After such a tiring
Journey.
 
When I am bigger
I will gallop high
With the kangaroos,
Deep into the night,
Beyond the stars.
 
Then I will ride
To the moon,
Lonely,
Sleepwalking alone
In the deep night,
Guarded by the watchful stars,
Lest she wander
Far into the dark.
 
I will hold her,
Comfort her,
And gently lead her
To her sleeping place
In the night place.
 
And in early morning
I will gather rain
From the dancing clouds,
And bring it
To the rising sun
Because he will need to drink
On his hot weary journey
High above my house.
 
Yes
When am bigger
I will do these things . . .
Because I am
Sipiwe.

When I am Bigger: Ode to My Grandson

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère