The beginning of the hot dry season
rustle of dry wind in dry grass,
sucking moisture from every pore
heating the earth to a dry crust
it is the beginning of the hot dry season
the time of flowering
of insects awakening
and bees collecting
and a bird sipping nectar held in a scarlet petal
. . . no rain for 2 months still
what trust is it then
the masasas lend to the future
flushing in heart-stopping gold,
painting crimson,
grey-granite-kopjes
what source of water
invisible beneath the earth
do their searching roots touch
to feed these new shining leaves
overhead the skies are broken by fighter planes
demonstrating the power of dictators
to the crowds at the agricultural show
- where the farmers are absent
- and the farms are abandoned
and the empty words of politicians hang heavy in the air
out there,
today,
on some granite kopje
a group of councillors from both parties
share their stories of hurt and shame
walking the path where light and shadow meet
interchange
interact
interconnect
today
out there on some granite kopje
courageous people explore the possibility
of a new way of being
of seeing
of hope
of trusting the future
and sending roots down in search
of invisible deep water
walking the dry earth
trusting the journey