Past ten at night, the bus came to a halt

Out came a girl with a figure without fault

Writ across her face was a smile so sweet

A B’day cake at home, would be a treat

She moved quickly on to a side street 

Home a mile away, she was on agile feet

Suddenly her heart started racing

All lights went off, darkness she was facing

Steps and voices heard moving toward her

Her pounding heart, made voices a blur  

Quickened her steps, was now running

Face now convulsed, her bosom throbbing

Missed her steps in the darkness

Fell on her face, her dress now a mess

Got up in a hurry as steps came nearer

‘Oh my God! Why to me this horror?’

She recalled she was lost once in a forest 

When it was dusk, felt panic and unrest

Question of life and death, she ran fast

Now honour was at stake, she was aghast

‘Save me God, I will never travel at night

I will be alert, keep a spray with me alright’

Prayers on her lips, she raced madly along

The steps behind her catching up strong

Now when her destination was very near

What she feared most happened, oh dear!

A hand on her shoulder pulled her back

She shrieked, was stopped in her track

She turned to face the man and fight

Same time lights came on bright

Lo! Fright turned into welcome calmness

Was her brother – to fetch her from the bus

….. A Poem by Rashid Hamza