Poetry Bulawayo

Photo by Resta Nyamwanza We’ve made our marks on the land So they know we’re here to stay We’ve strained our muscles taut So they see how tough it can get We’ll tug to the last ounce of strength To prove how right we are We’ll make them come to us Our perspectives are better We’ll make them cross the line To prove they were wrong all the while We’ll not cry like them because we’ve always been stronger We’ll tug with a grin on our faces Because we’re in control Of just one end of the same age-old rope.

I was once a half naked gardener I planted worms instead of flowers The owner of the house was so furious with me he chased me wielding a stick And then I went to another house and there I was welcome with great gusto They told me I was the only man in the house I thought of planting sperms instead of green vegetables I thought of X and Y chromosomes and the uterus with a silver lining I ended up chopping off all tomatoes that were ripe and selling them To blind nuns of Sibantukodwa Mission They showed me their petticoats instead My employer, seething and fuming told me to go back And come back a changed man "repent at Vundu!" "repent at Vundu!" And don't repent at the Ministry of labour and Social Welfare Because your father was once a worker and also used to be an employee at the same place; that is all I have to say!! Said the official