ACT 1 SCENE IV

A bleeding hand can be covered by a cloth but a broken heart, who can heal such? Mukunda has gone to drown his sorrows and on his way home he meets a beggar and decides to share his trouble with him.

 Enter Mukunda; on stage is a beggar.

MUKUNDA

For how long will you sit and beg. Since I was a small boy herding the Barwa cattle you have always asked for two rand now I am a man you still beg for two rand. Do your pockets ever get full or they have holes?

BEGGAR

A man and his sorrows, he drinks too much to try and drown them, only to wake up and find them waiting for him.

MUKUNDA

A beggar with a big mouth, I cannot call it wisdom, because if it was, he would have been able to redeem his life from begging.

BEGGAR

A drunkard and a beggar both have sorrows. The difference is, only one has accepted his fate but the other because of ignorance and cowardice always thinks that the solution is in the bottle.

MUKUNDA

Ha...Ha...Ha, the life of a beggar has taught you so well. But it forgot to remind you one thing that you are still a beggar. Everyday you sit and wait; while people live their lives and you hope they live a little for you. You beg they give you bread crumbs enough to last you the night but tomorrow you will be back. You are worse of than a dead man, at least they tried accomplishing their dreams when they were alive but you in your life you have stopped dreaming.

BEGGAR

Enough you drunkard! Do not judge me. I had dreams just like every one and I still dream. What do you do when a man loses his reason for leaving?

MUKUNDA

You find another reason.

BEGGAR

That is why I am still alive today.

MUKUNDA

I am sorry. I guess my sorrows overwhelmed me. My heart bleeds for a woman. My strength is weak. I did not do much to protect her; I should have fought and stood the ground for what I love.

BEGGAR

I am sorry I cannot help you but all I can say is you do not deserve what you are not willing to fight for.

MUKUNDA

Do you deserve every penny people give you when you beg?

BEGGAR

May be I deserve more that just a penny I get. I have given all to sit and beg. What have you given up to get what you want?

MUKUNDA

I do not know. I have only protected what has never fulfilled me in my life.

BEGGAR

If you want her go and fight for her.

MUKUNDA

I will try and do that my friend. Thank you very much.

BEGGAR

You are welcome broken hearted drunkard. A poor man and his wisdom are not remembered.

Mukunda leaves

The village elders gathered early in the morning to plan for the ordination of Mangi as Chief of the Barwa people. Amongst them is Naledi Mangi‘s sister, Mukunda and Mangi himself.

#keep reading 

written by Hawulethu Patrice Dube

a saxjaz7 production

all rights reserved

 follow me @hawulethu

like our page on Facebook ''There is a Zulu in my blog''