Zimbabwe by Heather Dube

Image - Sokwanele - Zimbabwe

 

I love her too
she may be young
but this beautiful mother's milk is sour to her
children
her babies who never cry
but mumble in silence and fear
bathi umntwana ongakhaliyo ufela
embelekweni*
the great dzimbaremabwe**
is weathering
each granite stone falling hard on a blood
stained soil of the chimurenga***
only to crumble to dust pounded by once a
hero now a villain
blown by the harsh stinking breath of a
ruthless self to land in the hands of
xenophobia.
She is still a beauty
I love her too
I can only hope and pray
the tears drenching her youthfulness to dry
up soon
I love her
I love Zimbabwe

*A child that don’t cry dies on its mother’s back

**House of stone

***War of liberation