Crystal spread sunlight
early morning rainbows on the bedroom wall

What day is this?
what turn of the planet?
carrying what new story?
where from, this wind that stirs the canopy?

Shadows from last week

Of the broken man called Stephen – son of a man I knew 15 years back
tortured for not attending a government rally
in his rural home

He had come for treatment from human rights doctors
and now needed bus fare
to reach his sister.

Safety on other side of the country
where he is unknown

Broken man on the run

And yesterday
the sad line of his relatives

‘Stephen died – after the bus journey’

Rainbows on the wall

News to a father in Gokwe . . .
your son is dead
news brought by a bus driver

Sell 2 cows
to pay bus fares and mortuary fees and coffin costs
sell two cows
your son is dead for not attending a rally

Rainbows on the wall

Hidden lies of silent diplomacy
the SADC leaders blame the West
for economic sanctions held against those responsible for the violence
and speak about land already taken by chefs

In the back garden
green glowing lettuces capture the light
curling new leaves in rapturous delight

News carried by a bus driver
your son is dead

Rhythmic call of the sun bird
dancing the honeysuckle

your son is dead

This entry was posted on April 20th, 2007 at 3:24 pm by Bev Reeler and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.