On the banks of the Zambezi 

River, a birder sits, a rifle by his side, 

a piccolo plastered to his lips,

elegant fingers picking the keys in 

hoodoo feats; the 

music swims away with the swooshing 

wind. Afore the blood-red sunset

merges with the earth at the horizon.

The songbird too entwines in the crooning,

her voice like poesy in a soft peddled 

serenade; the 

songbird sings and dances and swings

until the birder picks up his rifle,

aims at the songbird and shoots.

Dead and cold it falls 

to the ground.

Author’s Biography

Dacious Kasoka, also known as “Loner Pen” was born on the 19th of August in the year 2000.
He loves reading and writing.
He was taught how to read and write by his father who happens to be a primary school teacher in Lusaka, Zambia. He started his writing journey at the age of 17 during his eleventh grade. Ever since, he has written short stories and poems exploring diverse themes including love, friendship, death, art, and science, among others. His works have appeared in Williwash Magazine, Writers Space Africa Magazine, Agape Review and elsewhere. He is the national lead for Arthut Zambia Mesh, a community of poets, writers, story tellers and creatives. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Kwame Nkrumah University in Kabwe, Zambia.
When he is not writing, he is listening to reggae and country music songs.