SOBBI

NGSOULS

ABSOLOM MUTALE

1
 Ubunt uAfro-Publ
ishers
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oneerHouse, Fi
feSt&8thAv e
5thFloor
, Off
ice501H
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uaf ropubl
ishers@outlook.
com

Copy ri
ght©2022: AbsolomMut al
e
ISBN:978-1-779249-012-
5
Edit
or:PhilaniANy oni
Ty pesetti
ng:JenniferSChiveya
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Allri
ghtsreserved.Nopar tofthi
spublicat
ionmaybe
produced,dist
ributedort ransmitt
edinanyf orm orby
anymeansi ncludingphot ocopy i
ng,r
ecordingorot her
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

electr
onicormechani calmet hodswithoutpriorwrit
ten
permissi
onoft hepubl isherexceptinthecaseofbr i
ef
quotati
onsembodi edi ncrit
icalr
evi
ewsandcer tai
n
othernon-commer cial usesper mit
tedbycopy ri
ghtlaw.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thi
spoesybecamear eal i
tywi
tht
heki
ndsuppor
tand
hel
pofmanyindiv
iduals.Iwoul
dli
ket
oext
endmy
si
ncer
ethankstoallofthem.

Foremost ,
Iwanttooffert
hisendeavort
oourGOD
Almightyforthewisdom hebestowedme,the
str
ength,peaceofmindandunt ai
ntedheal
thtof
ini
sh

1
t
hewr
it
ing.

Iwoul
dli
ketoexpr
essmyspecialgrat
it
udetowards
myfamil
ymembers,myparent
sMr sJMutaleandMrK
Mutal
efort
heencouragement
,car
ing,l
oveandprayer
s.

Iwoul
dliketoevi
ncemychiefgrat
it
udeandthankst
o
mySeniorLect
urer
sDrVSibanda,Phil
osopherJ
MapongaandAdolfNyoni
forimparti
ngthei
r
knowl
edgeandexpert
isei
nt hi
spoetry
.

I
'm al
sohighlyindebt
edt odi
sti
nguishedmember sof
UBUNTUAFRO- PUBLISHERSCompany ,Nobuhle
Si
banda,JenniferSChiveyaandPhilaniANyoniamong
ot
hersfortheirconst
antguidanceandsuppor t
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

TheTest

Thi
soneexam, petr
if
yingandper plexing,
Compli
catedandemot ionall
yvexi
ng,
Myheadsquar ed;baff
ledandboi l
ing,
Env
yingforthatlostpri
v i
legeofplagiari
sm.

Thi
sexam, haptu!Likeafurnacetomylif
e!
Look!
Toppedoffwithasoci al
l
ydev i
antli
fe
Thi
sexam, copiousofmor alextor
ti
on,
Theacti
vi
sts,i
nf est
edofpont i
fi
cati
on.

2
Timehasf lownbywithnoplanbutnow,
Ireckon,t
hequesti
onpaper sarepuzzl
ing,
Thatunconditi
onalbutmajesti
cexaminer!
Ishallnev
ercopy,buthuntformyflyi
ngcolour
s.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Sobbi
ngMount
ain

Thereshestands, bul
gedandpregnantwit
hr ocks;
Sti
l
l i
ntactt
oday ,
noguar di
sall
owedt o
Li
ckitsglori
es,
Onlythatnotor
iouschameleonofmanycoat s,
I
spr i
vytothesaltsofthatsacr
edmount ai
n.

Ourtallmountai
ndrenchedi nhergr
eendressand
stones,
Catchesami l
li
onpair
sofhungr yeyesofthegl
obe,
Thet r
ioofli
onsini
tuproariousl
yroar,
Justtostri
kefeari
ntotheinnocentsheep.

3
TheFi
gtr
ee
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Leafy,asitis!
Vehement ,asi ti
s!
Sharp,dancingt othebuf
fet
,
Yetsmi l
ingt othedivi
nemorni
nghope
Butstil
ltoday ,
Li
key esterday,
Ifi
ndnof i
gs.

I
tisquitecr
azy,
Theshadeislessgr
een,
Theleavesareanumbrel
l
a,
Asitis!

I
tsadamant,defi
antandluxur
iousowner
s
Theroot
lessrocksunderit
!

4
Onlyt
hel oony,vi
cti
misedcalf
Grazi
ngthel i
fel
essleaves,
Fi
ndsjoyf rom t
histr
ee!
Butsti
ll
today ,
If
indnof igs.

Ev
ilFi
elds
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Undul
atingwithsinuousf urr
ows,
R
FO
OT
N

Fi
ll
edwi t
hdive-bombi ngbees
Andfoesrif
eofv i
ndicti
veparasi
tes,
Devi
ousuglywi tcheswi t
hdishesofenvy,
Thoseignor
antpl antsslothf
ultousespri
te,
Endur
ingtort
uref rom notori
ousdepredat
ors.

Thoseebonypl antsunderthesout
hsun!
Deafl
yli
steningtonightdrums
Anddonkeybel lsofthefarnor
th,
Whenwillitbe?

Thatfiel
dunderdar kgloomyclouds
Profusel
ybl eedi
ngsalt
ypercipient
,
Oftenleavingendlessfor
eboding
Andsev eraldaysofpremonit
ion.

5
Tomor
row'
sHour

Ther
eshallbejust
iceandpeace,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Harmonyandeducat i
on,
R
FO
OT
N

Whentheearthmirrorstheski
es!
Ri
ffl
esandrippl
esofr ai
ndrops
Shal
lsl
akesteri
leairi
ness.

Thatgar denshal
lbloom onceagain;
Paral
y zedplant
sshalldanceintherai
n,
Fl
oatingbi r
dsintheazureskyshallsi
ng!
Whilemonkey swi l
lchoi
rinParadi
se.

Therewil
lbenosultryorsalaci
ouscol
d,
Nocomeback' wi
l
lbemysongofanni v
ersar
y,
Wingsofjusti
ceandf r
eedom shal
lfl
y
From t
hatdist
antplaceinthewest.

Ther
eisbutnopai
nwi
thnogai
n,

6
Nosweatwithoutsweet
,
Butwit
hlapdogsoftr
ansgr
essi
on
Ther
eisnodirect
ion.

Mot
herRai
nbow

Oh!YouMot herRainbow!
Yourconstantflurryofplayful
ness,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Ti
nglesthef l
ower stoeffervescentsmiles,
R
FO
OT
N

Nobeeisuni mpr essed,not hugs,norugs!

Nowaifs,onlypeacef uldeath!
Sofri
endly,event henorthernbees
Quenchiny ournect ar
yjuice.

Peaceisyourfr
uit,
yougurgl
eseulogi
sti
c,
Poetryi
nmot i
on,youwrenchchai
ns
Andnetsofpov er
tyandwebs
I
ny ourext
remeexpansesofpasture.

Yourconstantprogresssomagni f
icent
,
Enti
cesbril
li
antintell
ectualsandI
Remembermybr il
l
iantprofessi
on,
WhenIseeknect arfr
om y ourhi
ll
s;
YouMot herRainbow!

7
Fev
eri
syoursobr
iquet
.

Laughi
ngSun

Thi
sscorchingswel
ter
ingsun,
Si
nkstosuffocat
esofteggs
Ofthosesoberi
ngsobbingsor
rows.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

I
tgigglestotearsofshame,
Pri
cki
ngt hroughthepersi
stentandpal
pable
Bl
oodoft helandsandt heseas;
Onlytoleavethi
rsti
nthev ei
nsoftheeart
h.

I
nst
eadoflight,
itbr
eedsafieryfi
ght,
I
nst
eadofshadows, i
tyi
eldsmour ni
ngwi dows,
Weexpectgrass,i
tbear
ssplinter
sofglass.

Mymot her'spotnowrustyandear t
hy,
Herfi
replacewithcharcoalasheschokes,
Hal
frained-inherhal
f-
thatchedhovel
!
Wil
li
tcome?
When?
Tomorrow?

8
Twi
nCl
oudyPi
geons

Oh!Lookhowt heyoccasional
lyperambul
ate
I
ntheirel
egantident
icalpropi
nquit
y,
Wit
honesl i
ghtl
ybiggerthantheother,
Bl
essedwi t
hbigandbr avehazeleyes;
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Thesmallerbl
i
nkingpagesofpi nki
shroses.
R
FO
OT
N

Howamongt hehighcloudst heysi

ng,
Astheywobbleacrossci
tiesofdivi
neclouds;
Openingupnewwor ldsi
nt heirmi
nds.

Watchhowt heykissandcuddle!
St
retchingupt hegoldenhor
izon
Oftheirthoughtsandthei
runion,
Smili
ngt othescentedpfumvudza;
Andwet tedgroundsbelowtheirwings.

9
Br
eat
hingTr
ee

Nolongercookingoxygen,
Nolongerbuttr
essedandanchored,
Shame!It
swax -cur
tai
l
edf ace
Nolongerresponsi
vetomor ni
ngglor
ies.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Diseasedwithexf
oliati
ngbarks
R
FO
OT
N

Leav i
ngthemightytrunknaked,
I
tsuf fer
sfr
om thediceyfurnace,
Nol ongerr
esponsiv
et othebuffet
.

Treesmourntheparoxysm ofwi
ldinfer
nos,
Theirdeadof
fspri
ngdroopintheair
lessai
r!
Torri
dandtorsi
onkneeittothebakedground.

Thenwithnoremor seorpi
ty,
Oppor
tunist
icvi
l
lagerscomet odevourit
,
Topunishandbetraythei
rpatchedpots,
Cooki
nguphy gr
oscopicwater.

10
Thoseday
s,Fat
her
?

Ourr ainmakingcer
emony ,
yes!
Ourf i
rstfr
uit
sceremony ,
Thei mparti
aldownpourofhomer ai
n,
Ourhi deandseekinthev eget
ati
ve
Fieldsofhome, t
hentheal t
rui
sti
c
throngharvesti
ngfortheneighbour.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Wherear etheyFat her?

I
nages, Icogitateont henumberofyears,
Agroupofv i
l
lagef athers
Gather
edatt hewat erholef
orahunt,
Thatdial
oguewi t
hpi geonsofTundazi
;
Shari
ngourhar v
estwi t
hani sofShashani
mal .

Wherear ethey,Father?
Theadroityetabjectl
ycarryi
ngmot her
s
Backhomecooki ngbut t
erednhopi,
Themat ureyetfrol
icsomemot hersofhome,
Ooh!
Idi
dn'tforget
, t
hedemur elyspi
rited
Vir
gindaught er
sofhome,
Withtheirsoftbutstonechests!

11
Wher etobef oundagai n?
Thehegemoni candbur eaucr
aticgr
andf
ather
s
Backhomehi dingcowski nwhipsandsj
amboks
I
nt heirti
redwai stsonl
ytoteach
Naught ysonsoft hev i
ll
agealesson,
Aretheyst ol
en, Father
?

ThemoonofAugustnakedl yey ei
ngt heplayi
ng
chi
ldr
en,
Justt
oshamet hehy ena-ri
dingsorcer er
sofhome!
Thatnightbreezeimpingingt heti
ti
llati
on
ofbarefootedchildr
en,
Thefreshsmel lofdark-
reddishsav annahsoil,
Thesmel l
s,tastesandcol oursofhomef oods!

Li
st eni
ngtothecooingdovesoft
heni
ght,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Theowl s,
thedistantmel
ody
From Tom-Tom'sdr umsneart
heZambezi
I
si tall
gone,Father?!

12
I
ner
ti
a

Dumpedanddej ected,
Look,atmyleaf
y -
heart
Nowper f
orat
edt opatches;
Therealdoct
orforitis….
Nomor e!

Thi
sper manentwound
Shallbynomeansbeaj ol
l
ypi
t,
Withoutmyli
fe'
sfl
ower.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Onemor enightplease,
Let
ssharethebr eeze,
Thegreenhollyofthisnatur
alj
oll
y
Amidsthyparrheni
af i
li
pendul
a.

13
Mama,
wher
eIsGr
andma?

Whereplease?
Cansheber enewed?
Iam missingher,mama!
Iwanttoleanmybackonher s,
Shewoul dsharewit
hmeherbottl
edt
obacco,
Sothattogetherwesneeze.

Wher eplease,Mama?
Istil
lrememberont hatday,
Sheev anesced,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Shedi dn'
tmakev al
edict
ion,
From school,Ionl
yfoundelegiacmour
ner
s,
At umultofweeping,
Oury ardcrowded,
ButGogo, wasnotamongt hem!
Wher ewasshe?
Iwonder ed!

Mama, Iusedtogr azeourgoatswit

hher,
Inourvill
ageval
leyofchlorophy
ll
,j
uniper
s,
Whowi llIwal
kwi t
hnow?
Whowi llsoot
hemybr okensoul
Inprecari
ouspredicaments,
Wheny oubeatmef ormisdemeanours?
Ishallf
ollowher,
Tomor row.

14
HandsOfI
ndol
ence

Afatherofabasement,yes!
Theseatandexhaustpipe
Ofaberrant
lyabhorr
entbacks,
Thedampbr oom,
I
'mfound, i
nanyangleofapublictoi
let
WhenIshal lbecal
l
edMrSo- and-so!

Notthisabysmalsobri
quet
,
Ofunservil
ebeasts,
Nowl esserthanadog
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Af at
herofmi sf
ortunesharnessed
R
FO
OT
N

Toalldeadlychainsofthi
ssway ingworl
d,
Now, andnowpaddl ingmyowncanoe,
Iam my sel
f,str
ewnaway
From tr
eacherousmol esofhightops.

15
HandsOfSl
aver
y

Death!
Acharm ofmine.
Whereareyounow, mydear
?
Onlyyoucanfreeme,
Fr
om thisar
idruthl
essl
and.

Death!Theylai
dmeonadeadl ycarpet
Ofdest r
ucti
onandjeopardy
I
nfl
ux, onlyt
osuff
ert het
ort
ure!
Withoutanyscant
yr emunerat
ion,
Orrecompense.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Death!Friendofmi ne!
R
FO
OT
N

Vanishmef rom t
hef ace
Ofthisincarcerat
ingearth,
Thehur ti
senoughnow,
Theiryappingistoomuchnow.

Death!
Theymakemeabeastofbur den,
Idigandweedi ntheirgar
den,
I'
mt hefi
eldman,thecombi neharvest
er,
Thesubmer si
blepumpandt hefr
ontloader
Thedogoft hestreets,
Thepeasantofthet hir
dclass
Andt heworstofall
.

Deat
h!Wi
l
ly-
nil
l
y,t
heyhuntme

16
WhenIescape, aphalanxoffoescomes
Tohammerme,
Wherearethepiddlethoughts
Thatbeartheperci
pienceforpursuance?
Avagabond,ti
llwhensangf r
oid,
I
'm bur
ningwithi
ninfernos
Li
vinginaholl
owhov el
.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

17
Sl
i
therRi
ver
.

Yes!Iadoreyou,
riv
erofhome,
Notsoagr oasyou
Vanishint
oourunstabl
efi
elds,

Aft
erther
ei spl
eonasm,
Thesupernumeraryl
if
eoftheuni
ver
se,
Thewildcreat
ures
AndtheShepherdsOfGreenl
and.

Thever aci
tyofmyl eafy-
heart,
Youar e!
I
stor enderyoureternaladorati
on,
Yournat ur
alfacewailshope,
Sti
l
ltheor i
ginali
tyofli
fe'
srealtast
e.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Look!
Themonkeys,i
nsect
s,all
theBonganyuchi
,
All
thehungr
ypair
Oftheworl
d'
scontentadmir
ingyouragl
ow.

Oasi
s
18
I
ndependentl
ypot hol
ed,
I
nt hemidstoft
heAr abi
andesert,
Nakedtothedirectl
ysuspended,
Pre-emi
nentfur
nace,
Thatyouneverabate.

Yourtaproot,
oh!
Enj
oyst hesprinkli
ngandoozingvei
ns
Ofaurif
erousbat holi
th,
I
ntactyetnounl eashedpotent
ial
ofinci
sion
Shal
ldev ouryourgoldenheart
.

Look!Oh!Mydesi
re!
Yourvi
cini
typr
impedwit
hsucculentv
erge,
Thewhooshesofcatt
legraze.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Vi
l
lage'
ssong

19
Thebull
etedbutcher
edsonsanddaught
ers,
Ti
redfr
om bloodcurdli
ngscreams,
Thefi
lt
hiestofsti
ckypri
soncell
s,
Yetnohopeofl i
ghttomorr
ow.

Thegore-stainedfloor
s!
I
sitanabat toirorahospit
al?
Bl
oodcol ouredr awsewages,
Theli
festyl
eofcommongunshot s
Boi
sterouslybur st
ingear
drums.

Thegli
steni
ngheartl
essboots,
Stampi
ngmot hersfer
ryi
ngproduce
Onthei
rheavy-l
adenheads,
Sti
ll
nomor ni
ngfreedom beckons.

Peacebestil
l!
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Letyouradi
eubenomor e
Butadvocati
veadagioandacui t
yprevai
l
,
Notallt
his,
will
y-ni
l
lyacquiesce,
Butadvocatetr
ansparencyofequit
y,
Thenthereshal
lbef r
eedom tomorrow.

MySon

Theacumenofmass,

20
Bedecisi
vewhi lethemainstaysinewdisti
l
lat
e
Anddecanty ou,fr
om ingenious,hades,
Hacksstil
lsulphuricaci
d,
Sotakemyt i
tani
cmanoeuv r
eplease
IknowIdidnotr elaystr
abismiceyes
Toy ouorinepti
tude,ri
ght?

Bel i
ghtweightonthehi l
lsofar,
Egocentri
csdi scer
ny ourbril
l
iance,
Benonal i
gned, i
fnotletitbe,
I
fy es,defi
nei t
,
Laissezfai
ret oyourwits!
Don'tconsenty ouremot i
onstocontrol
you,
Erey oudomi nateyourvirt
uousmanhood.

Bethi
nkyourconsangui neousrel
atives,
Letnotfr
aternisedcompl ai
sanceruinandrul
e
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Youracademi cjur
isdi
ction,
Nomor elovey oushallgetfr
om thisworld
Thanfrom yourmot herandI,
Isay.

Bemi ndful
,beresponsivenotreactive.
Don'
tbedeaft othecr i
esundery ourf eet
,
I
tisnotbadt obeconcei vedinapoorf amil
y,
Butbadisy ourpromiscuousdeci si
on
Soenv i
sionandenl i
ghtenitwit
heuphor i
a,
Foryoutobeauni quesuigeneris,
Sol
omonofI sr
ael.

Bevi
gil
ant,nopr
ivi
l
egetorheum,st
ayawake!
Pl
ease,don'
tbel
ikebi
o-hedges
I
nsul
argourmandsofhi
ghpeaks,

21
Whorebel
sthei
rowndesti
ny,
Ef
fi
caci
ousl
yrewardi
ngweapons,
Ar
enotinhandsbutdi
vi
newisdom.

Bedidacti
c,guar
dy ourlocuti
on,
Donotsalivat
eatt helecherousdaughters
Ofthatcit
y,whent het i
mei sri
pe,
Gotot hemountainsandy ouwillf
ind
Anintactfl
owerfory ourmot her'
skit
chen,
Butknowy ourfl
ower 'syardfir
st.

Bebraveinthiswil
derness,myson,
Thebri
ckistobey ourchair
Atyournei
ghbour '
sceremony ,
Gocapeinhands,
Pl
easeruminat eal
l t
his"chl
orophyl
l"
Bef
oreyoust epont henetherworl
dcarpet
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Noroom forcaiti
ff
.
MyDaught
er

Mybel oveddaught er
,bey oursel
f!
Don'tpartwithyourmot her'
sinfel
icit
ouspl i
ght
,
Thepeacei ny ourmarri
ageper petuallydri
ps
From hertenderdinghyhear tofgold
Giveherfealtyandhonour ,
Noamountofl ovecanper manent lyremedy
Yourruinousandt att
erdemal i
on-l
ikef ut
ure,
Realloveorigi
natesfrom yourv i
ll
agehome.

Beyoursel
flesty
oumaymel tt
onowher
e,
Ianswer,
Eventhebir
dsoftheskyl
and,

22
Nopliabi
li
tytothepompous
Hal
f-nakedstreetdaughter s
AndthePhoeni cianJezebels,
Swall
owy ourpr i
detoy ourmot her
'st
easi
ng,
Rol
li
ngst onesshallatnot imegathermoss,
Neverrespondt othewhi speri
ngwhist
les
Ofhyenassneaki ngindar kall
eys.

Beyour self,
itshallt
ell
,whenthet i
mei sripe,
Respecty ourinsides
Lesttheyinflamey ouwi t
habscesses,
Departuref r
om thisbri
ngsghoulish
Andcadav erouschorusesfrom sati
ri
cal f
li
es,
Yournat uralbeautyisnotspri
ngi nwinter
,
Fort
hright,
I
nfusiondet erminesulti
mateout put
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Bey our
self,
daughter
!Donearemy"5"
I
ntrospecti
velyv
ehementangl
es,
Youcanst opabirdfr
om nest
ingonyourhead,
Butnotitsfreef
li
ght.

23
RoadTwent
y-ni
net
een
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thegiggl
ingarebamboozl ed,
Tott
eri
ngf r
om ahalf-
thatchednest
,
From t
hesobbinghospi t
als,
Andtherustedjungl
e-l
ikeconstr
ucti
onsandpl
ant
s.

Shewear st
hewiredDunl oponherf eet
,
AndleavesforDomor ehototodi gbulbs
Forhermalnouri
shedandcol l
apsingoffspr
ing,
Themout hfl
amesf i
rewi t
ht hir
st,
Yettheli
onsareseatedongol d,
Nopainandnosor row,
Theydri
nkmi l
ktosubst i
tutewat er,
Theyroarwhenthescr awnyt oddler
Opensitsmouthtobar kforrelief
.

24
From ti
metot i
me,
Thehungrygravecal l
sf orher
Throughthenightknifepoint,
Forasweat yandagoni zingdeath,
Whent heli
fel
esswi ndr ages
Thenakedv egetat
iont hroughemptydreams,
Peoplechewingmuddywat erti
mely,
Weseeal l
.

Deser
tedShadows.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Canthishappen?
R
FO
OT
N

Runningfrom yoursel
f!
Sowhymasky our
self?
Runningfrom yourownexistence,
I
fnot,thenwhyt hi
sdi st
ort
ion?
Wherear ethoseorigi
nalcover
s?
Notthis,t
hisfakepaint.

Whydon'tyoulovey oursel
f?
Yes!Youhateyourself!
Nowy ouarevaguelymul ti
-col
our
ed.
Shame!Thisident
itycri
sis,
Bi
rthi
ngdiscombobul at
ion.

Whobrokethattongue?
Hat
ingyourfood,hat
ingyourscent
,

25
St
il
lhati
ngyoursound?
Ar
ey ousti
l
lyoursel
f?

MyMot
her

YouululatewhenIper form eximi

ousl
y,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Myownmot her,Il
ov ey ouMama,
R
FO
OT
N

Formont hsinsideyourbowel s,
Bathi
ngmey ourwarm mi l
k,
Feedi
ngmewi thsofthoneyandcr eam,
Youcoul dfeelmyki cksofj oy,
Bobbinginsidewi t
hel ation.

Myownmot her,t
hetimebecamer i
pe,
Yougavebirthtoalegend!
Notason,
No!Yousculptedmei ntoauniquePr i
nce,
Younursedmeandi nyourguidance
Il
earntnev
ert otouchthatfi
re,
Thenyoudecr eedall
thegirl
sinourv i
ll
age
Weretobemysacr edsist
ers.

26
Mother, dur
ingt hoseday sofinfancy,
Youcoul dnotf eel anyner veofseductiv
eness,
Withmesobbi ngi ny ourlovinghands,
Seeingwhaty oucoul dn'tsee, t
heperi
lous,
Thedar kesthour s, l
i
steningt ohyenas
Andt hedistantdr umsoft heZambezi
Mycar i
ngMot her ,Ineedy ou.

Withyoumot her,t
odayI'
m aman!
Thegr eatmanoft hev i
ll
age,t
hegraduate,
Thelearned,theprofessor,
I
'm di
st i
ncti
vemot her,
Onlyfatherresemblesmyuni queness,
Becausehei sy ourfl
eshtoo.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

27
MyFat
her(
Epst
il
).

DearFather,
Howmuchwer ey ouscrappi
ngf ormysurvi
val
?
Li
keacocky ouwouldcrow,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Tofeedmei nmymot her'

sassor t
ment,
R
FO
OT
N

Youclearedthejuni
perstoti
llthesands,
Onlyt
odesi stt
heabdomi nalacid.

ButFat her
,tellmesil
ently,
Howdi dy ou,inmymot her,
Procreateandbakemet obeperf
ect,
Reciprocati
ngy ouraesthet
ical
lymoralscrupl
es,
Veryexquisiteandextremistinmannerism?

Fat
her,bebenedi ct
edforyourbenevol
ence,
Youtaughtmet oremovethehat
Whengr eet
ingt heel
dersoftheuniv
erse,
Towalkcap- i
n-handtopalaces,
Toploughfort hewidow,
Tofordtheriversofthi
snation,

28
Thusyougroomedmeintoanethi
cal,
I
ncorr
upti
ble,
nobl
e,v
irt
uousl
ygustyboy.

MyFat her,youaret hebr eadofmyf utur

e,
Myglimmer i
ngpsy chicswor d
Thataccompani esmet oev eryjungle,
Thedext eri
tyandpr owess,
Youmassagedi ntomycer ebralhemi spher
e
Shall
enabl emet ohunt !Hunt !Hunt !
Foranef fer
vescentdui kerf r
om di stant
Richgreenv al
leystof eedourf ami l
y.

Ult
imatel
y,youshal
l roy
all
yrobeme,
Then,Ishall
gotoKi ngSol
omon' spalace
Andbringintoouryard,
Theimpeccableyetbenevolent
,Diana.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

29
Deat
hlyVal
l
ey.

I
tsundulati
ngf i
el ds,r
ock-outcrops,
I
nmonocul ture-smi l
i
ngf i
elds,
Salvolat
il
eleachedear th,
Sago-str
essedt reesandsagebr ush,
Nolongersingingandf l
uti
ngHol lywood.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Theabsol utelyambushedsacchar i
nehunt ers,
Thespi ri
tl
esssqual l,
Degradinglydebar ki
ngt helif essmsasa,
el
Trembl i
ngf r
om theat r
ociouslyrapacious
Electr
icchargesoft hehost i
leazure,
Nowandt henl ongingf orancientrai
ns,
Wi t
hpur i
tanical
lypur pl
e-patchedpar adise-
thir
sty
sky,
Thoseoncebonebl ackcl oudsbearwhi t er
ain
Nowl icki
ngf ir
edrops.

30
LastSeen
Il
astsawy ouwithi
nalabyri
nth
Toget
her,prai
ri
ewasapl ace
Ofourkvetchi
ngchoruses.

Il
astsawyouwat eri
ngthekal
e
Pl
ayingkar
aokeny cht
hemeron,
Razi
ngkumquat,kibbutzwasourkedger
ee,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Robbedinsacr
osanctkimono.

Oh!Ilastsawy oupreeni
nglyprancing
Togetheramongsi zzl
ingsagebrush,
OnlyyourextendedadieuIcanst i
ll
r emember
Thenandnow,
Reall
y.

31
DuneJour
ney
.

I
nthatl
andknackeredandder ai
led,
Pani
cstri
ckeninterr
or,weare,
I
nsuchawi lder
ness,whenwillwereach
Ourchl
orophyll
-edmother
land?

I
nt hatland,allourli
mbs,
Vertebrates,pelv
isesandpat
ell
a,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Thel i
ckingredbor nmar r
ow,
R
FO
OT
N

Theabat edsy novial

flui
d,
Arebr oken
Body ,spir
itandsoul.

I
nt hatwilderness,ti
redofdonkeybel
l
s
Fl
amesofswel teri
ngsunandthebakingsand,
Thepsy chologicalimbal
ances
Scatteral
l gatheredhope,t
oday,t
omor r
ow.

I
nthatland,
thesacredheartofthedeser
t,
Theoasisonl
yservesthoseofmet al
muscles,
Notacademicandneedymuscl es.

32
Oxy
gen

Youraisemeup,
I
nthesoot hingoftheni
ght,
Youwhi spertome,
Yourconsumi ngveil
subli
mes
Mycrimsonhear tofri
ches,
Yourrosesofblissf
ulsmil
es
Aff
ectmet oimpede,
Andutterintongues.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

SweetOxygen,
Let'
smeettomor r
ow
Atourusualgrazi
ngland,
Ourlambwillr
efereeus,
Ishall
bri
ngwithmemymel l
ifl
uous,
Harpthatf
atherboughtyest
erday,
Comeer emyf l
ower!

33
Gr
anny
'sHouse

Der
elictanddecay i
ng
Ontheedgeoft hevil
lage,
Noonecar es,
Myroof ,half
-ski
ed,half
-t
hatched,
Por
tionisal lmysolace,
Mydar kestcorner,
Mycol l
apsedcav e.

Theylivei
nt hei
rmansi ons,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Deli
neatedbygal act
icstrobes,
Expell
ingthepalpableCimmer i
andarkness,
Onlytodev ourmet otheduskingvi
l
lage,
SayingI'
m anobeahwomen.

Theyl
etthei
rdepredat
ionsscandalpi
l
lage
All
thegoldofmymangot urpenti
ne,
Whenshallt
hischasti
sementcease?

34
Cr
eamySi
ght
.

Uh!Mycoral
jaconi
paspeakssweetst
ones,
Thosecat
chi
ngpupilshookanddi
ssol
vemy
pri
vacy
.

Butforgivemepl ease!
Itismyownscour ge,
Itamperedy ourtwinvi
rgi
nflowers
LiketheOnei ntheBibl
e,youasked,
"Whot ouchedme?Mypowerhasgonef or
thf
rom
me" .
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ei
sh!Youf orgav
e,
Sti
l
lmypoweral r
eadydesert
ed,
Li
ket heOnei nt
heBibl
e,Iconvul
sei
nwat
er,
I
nf i
reatlastonourqueenbed
Whenonl yyoulookatme,
Yousee.

35
TheSt
il
lBi
rt
h

Thosecri
msonedbeaconsst i
l
lfl
ash,
Thatyoungsuni sdead;
Whenwi l
lcert
aintybe?
Whatistouchedv ani
shes,
Whospeaksi ssnared,
Whoiswi sei
sdi gest
ed.

Come!Come!Come!Li ght,
Thedeepesthourshall
vanishmorrow,
Thehusksofhiddenreali
tyshal
lsmil
e.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

36
Fal
l
ingSun

Thatcunni
ngscar
leti
bis
Witholdmast
ers,
Burnsthemovi
ngwaterandi
tsi
nsi
des,

Thatfal
li
ngsuncr ashesi
ntowat
er
Anditcan'tbecooled,
Butchewst hewaterit
sel
f,
Dull
locomot i
onendures
Tomeett hehelpl
essgrass.

Today,i
tsseedsboi
led
I
nfrigi
dai
retoashes.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

37
Comi
ngDay
.

Bel
atedl
ynegli
gentyetencumber
edbyt
empest
,
Shesell
sthr
ought heominousni
ght
s
OnOKSuper marketsver
anda.

Herchil
ddozesonherskeletalchest,
Li
steni
ngtothecicadaandstri
dulators
OfthefarwestandNorthzenit
h,
Onlyfi
vecentssheworkedtoday,
Yethungergnawsandchewsherbel l
y.

Li
keaki l
nitburns,
Nowf or
sakent othestenchinggarbage,
Evi
lsmelli
ngcor nerst
reets,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Chasedaway ,nowshecr i
esf orderel
ictsal
es,
R
FO
OT
N

Butsti
ll
Canaani sbymor row'sli
ght.

TheVi
neTr
ee
38
Theambi t
iousgrapes,
Ri
venuponkopf l
auntfrom t
hepar
ent
,
Theclandesti
nefoel ur
ks,
Str
ikesthevine'
staproot,
Yetbanter
ingtobei nnocent
.

It
hinkheusur pedalli
tsphloem,
Evenxyl
em vesselsandi t
sof fspr
ing
Yetwoul
dbel ovedfai
nhim,
Whysoswel l
'st?
Nowdesperategr apesgri
ev ed,
Andmour ni
ngpr ematurel
y.

All
thatsuff
ocati
onandmour ns,
Becausethetr
unkisprobl
emat i
c
Thattr
ee,ki
ndonlytobecruel
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Whynott hi
nki
ngbeyondyournose?

Far
m House

39
Vexedandflummoxed,
Whereunfur
nished-v
il
eworkerstoi
lforcent
Attheheel
sofsev er
edAchil
les.

Thatfarm houseobscur ed,

Highl
yencr oachedwithgimmickfern
Besetitsmelancholi
clabourer
s
Holdi
ngr ustywire-
bolt
edploughs,
Pull
edbygoat sofoxen,
I
tshistori
calbreadbasket,
Beetl
ingindocument sofeasternandWest
ern
pl
anes.

Thatf
arawayfarmhouse,
Bri
mmingwit
hv ol
untar
ygenoci
de,
Hangswit
hmuddy ,bl
oodychai
nsofsl
aver
y.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Atumultofweepi ngchil
dren,
Saggedandwi theredparent
s
Labouri
nv anit
yupont hefri
edear
th,
Nolunchtodayorel se
Apeacefulgrave.

Li
vi
ngDeat
h.
Dreadf
ultr
ansmogri
fi
cati
on,
Enthr
all
i
ngthedead,j
ett
ingbl
ackwor
ds,

40
Deadpromisesbut
,Ostay,
cloi
steredgol
d
I
ngrani
te,y
ield'
stl
i
ghtnott
hiselegiacgl
oomy
.
GetusoutMoses.

Thisghoul ishl
yawe- inspir
inggr av e!
Look, laywast efulplaguesi ny ourLea,
Int hatdale,withcor hots,mai nsl ayers
Jail minorslayerst obar nuni mpai red
Slay i
ng.
Whyst ampedguar dsnotpar chingf oll
ower
s?
See, nolivi
ngor gani sms, yetsneer i
ng
atswar t
hyhome' sy ou.
Whent ober esusci tated,capi t
ulate, t
heyar
e
Nost algi
coft his,thissaltedwhi p.
Seenow!t heor phanedcal f,scuddi ngindark
Alleys,forthosenol ongeri ny oursi ght.
Vani shedbaker saty ourmet eanddol e
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

consumi nghear th.

Hear
tInBr
okenGl
asses.

Nowl ostamonghungr yl
ions,
Ri
v enwithoutbound,t
hattyr
anni
cal
machet
e
Sl
icedmyhal f-
decayedheart,

41
Nowhalf-
ali
ve…
Hal
f-
crushedinbr
okengl
asses.

I
'm nownot hinginthemi dstofnowher
e,
Ofany t
hingdoingnothing,
All
thespl i
ntersnowcr i
msoned,
Tomor r
owIshal lroam,
Lookingforthelosthalf
,
Onlytorepairmyhal f
-l
if
e.

Andsoreal
lyIshal
lneversl
ough,
Ti
llI
'
m completedwit
hmybr i
mming
RedRose,mypermanentremedy.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

TheSobbi
ngSoul

Wheredoesshebelong?
Alonel
yreedsheis, quakingamongfrost
y
Vei
lsoftheworld,
thev enomousf oes
Devourhernat
uraltexture,

42
Look,nomor emountai
ns,
Nowel opedtoasmog,
Whochaseshert othecemeteryoft
hev i
ll
ages?
Yester
nightsheconvul
sedint
oacollapsedgrave,
Herhalfnakedtoddl
erproj
ect
edsharpbleats,
Whocar es?

Thatshetoil
sinar
idfi
elds,
ameekgarden,
Pumpingborehol
ewhichdripsadr
op
Aft
erfourtofi
vedays,
Wheredoesshebelong?
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Fr
ozenGr
ound

Vexedasshesl ouches,
Ferr
yingaforestryoffi
rewood,ay
e!
Hearkeni
ngtohi ssi
ngchappingbonganyuchi
,
Hersandpaperedpal mslul
lherdayagedchil
d,
I
nthedarkiesofphant om

43
Li
fel
ist
enst ohery
apping,
Herl
amentingmarri
age,
Whenwill
shewav egoodbye?

Onl
ytheroad,
reddustaccumulates
I
neye-pal
edpockets,
Hungersi
ngsinherabdomen,
Herfi
repl
acewithnothi
ngbutzincpot
s.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

SmokedEy
es

I
tleavesmoundsofl andmarks
Uponmyf ragi
lepupil
,
Thehalf-
darkduskinghuski
es
Wailmydili
gentsight.

Myey
esar
efi
l
ledwi
thbr
okent
ospl
i
nter
s

44
Meani
ngnomor row'ster
m si
ght
,
Buti
ndi
ff
erentt
ot hereal
it
y.

Whenshal lIgainmysight?
Ever!
Anoner eIdie,
I
'm nowundonef r
om thi
slanguishi
ngear
th,
Mypsy chicgrandeurwil
lenvi
sion
Myf amilyofnextseason,
Thatisifiti
stobe. N
OT
FO
R
PR
N
I
N
TI
G

Thr
oughTheNi
ght

Comeon, theonl
yboneofmyhear t
Myrealfl
owersoi nt
act,
Iwi l
lneverhate
I
tsnight
dressofred-moles,
Cascadi
ngf ol
l
icl
esandaf inches'wings.

Thr
oughthevastAfr
icanjungle,
Weshal
lsingthr
ought heAfri
canambi
ence,

45
Weshal
lbr
ingourf
ather
smoral
efor
th,
Thev
elv
etsil
ktobr
eedtwodoveswi
thoutspar
e.

Tomor rowwe' l
l wal
k
Barefootedont hoseriverbanks,
Ourfami li
arwitnessesaresheepher
der
s,
LikeTabi t
ha,youshalldance,
Andliket hetal
entedDav id
Ishal
l playtheharp.

Thr
oughthatlong,l
ongnight
,
Weshal
lmor phaDi vi
neGenesis,
Amorni
ngofbar bequesaucebeforewel
eav
e,
Fl
yi
ngtothesnowyl andsoftheWest.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

TheWi
ndow.

Thr
oughi t
,Icansee!
Theslantedsmi li
ngpur plepr
imrose,
Thedrunkl i
ghtningwi thpaci
fi
edprecipi
tat
ion,
Theredish-purpleturpenti
ne,
Tet
heredv ehement l
ywi t
hyell
owjuice,
Thegloriouspitchesofoury ard.

Thr
oughi
tIcansee

46
Thedr i
bsanddr ubsofGod' simpart
ialrai
n,
Telescopeadi st
antgrazi
ngkudu
Withhomol ogousmoul dwarps,
Amongpar ricusmaximum ofourv alley
,
Spontaneouslyspir
all
i
ngf reshoxygen
From catar
actsandhur ri
canes
Overandov eranastomosedgr anit
es.

Throughi t
,Icanseet herejuv
enil
e,
Yolky-
eyedsungr eeti
ngyawningnature,
Thesilverjewelswi t
haprickl
ingsensati
on,
NowIt akemywoodenhar p.
Li
keaBi bl
icalsai
nt,
Ienjoytheheav enlymelody.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ver
yHotCol
d.

Whycan' tIseethewai fsouls?

Roami ngthestreets,
plasti
cbedding
I
nthedar kal
leys,t
hesilhouett
e,
Whowi l
lcareforthem?Lookat
Them, thebakedbut t
ocks,
Hoov es,heel
sandsol es,
Theirstri
pped,sti
ckystench
Withstolensuitandpant s.

47
Thest erileandst olenhope
Nol ongergi venachancet osurvive,
ButIut teredmysweet -
chockingcr edi
ts,
Perhapst hi
snobl estpairofshoes,
Donotev enbelongt ome,
Theseshoesar epai nf
ul,
Nowbl amedbei ngabadf it
,
Iseenow, t
hecor rosiv
e, salt
y-st
ickytear
s
Inthecol lapsedcheeksoft hey oung,
Justlyreasoni nmymer cil
ess
Kalashni kovandkangar oocour t.

Ideclar edt ocur et hegr ievedhear t

s,
Towat erourdr ygar dens, t
oCr eatebeatenpat hs!
Nowghost l
yandghoul ish
Yetdr i
ppi ngwi thcol l
oqui alinnuendo,
Inotedt het earsofgr andmot hersandf athers
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Whom Ibet r
ayed, lynchingupt hei
rfreedom,
Theyshal l
smoul dermet oashes!
Phant asmagor i
asdepr edat or,am I?
Why ?Myki nder gartendegr eeddogs,
Ibrainwashed, ent i
cedt hem t opl otaHol ocaust
Againstt heirbiological parent s;
Vil
lages, societiesbei ngmassacr ed,
Forpeacef ullypur suingme,
Snivelybeseechi ngwi tht ears
Atthei rwi thered, perforatedf aces,
Toshar ewi t
ht hem,
WhatIexpl oitwi thdespot i
cexot i
cs.

ThenIsayshootthem!Shoot
!
Oohwhykill
i
ngmyownf amil
y,
Mytri
be,myroots,

48
YetIcensur
emynat
ivepar
ent
s.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

HomeRai
n

Thatrainofhomewi thasquall
andzephy r,
Vanquishi
ngt heZei
tgei
stofzombi es,
Teari
ngandext ri
cat
ingtheendlessbluecobal
t
Ofdactyli
cfir
mament al
hexamet er
,
Onlytoimplantapeasant'
ster
restrial
obj
ecti
ve.

Hear,t
heearbreaki
ngrazzmatazz,
Seethecer
emoni al
axesofli
ghtning
Cutthr
oughtheburdenedsky,
Thuddi
ngcatsanddogs,
Ropesofdownpourhangingti
relessl
y

49
From thebrokenf
loodgates,
Fi
lli
ngourvill
ager
unnels,
Leavingsi
nuousfurrowsinfi
elds,
SengwaRi v
ersuff
ocatingwit
hmi scel
l
aneousf
ish.

See,t
heprol
iferat
ingf
loorunderourfeet
,
Overthepl
ainsandplateausofNenyunka,
Lookattheduiker
s,warthogsandimpalas
Comingtogreetourli
vestock.

Thatrai
nofhome, wherearey ounowaday s?
Thewhol evi
ll
agei sstar
ingtoutterit
spanegy r
ic,
Aft
erwitnessingyourgargantuanappr oach,
Comeandwat ertheplayingchil
drenofhome,
Andleavetheconst el
l
ationandbr eezeofni ght
,
Onlytorecuperat
eourf i
eld-l
abouredpar ents.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Uni
ty
Unity!
Withoutyou
Thechi l
dofthewor l
disast
ray,
Loopedandwi ndowed,
Yourabsencebr ingslamentat
ion,
Sociali
njudi
ciousness,
Thepl i
ghtofthegi r
lchi
ldandwomen,
Andt heexpl
oitationofmanbyman.

Unity!
Semi -
slaver
yinvi
ll
agesofhomeisr
ampant
Whenwi l
lyoucomeagain,
Unit
y?
Pleasecomeandquencht hedi
sper
sednat
ions.

50
Unit
y!
Youareourf ami l
yrapport,
direction,
Peace,lov
e, mov ement,ourtransfigurat
ion,
Armouroflight,li
ghtofsocieties,
Thewisdom ofnat i
onsandourr econcil
iat
or,
Thejoyofourf ami l
y,t
hepar entofor phans,
Thefatherofwi sdom
Comeonpl ease,loveandmer cy.

Unit
y!
I
ny ourabsence,fatherJohnrefusest oshare
Hisfoodwithusinhungeri nhisnei ghbourhood,
Heplayshispiccolowhi l
ewel anguishinpov er
ty,
Heisrichandthrivesonenslav i
ngt hechil
d,
Widowandpar entofhi sownsoci ety,
Comeagai n,pl
ease!Wewi l
lnotmi suseyou.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Unity
!
Withyourpresence,wedon'traisearms
Againstourownparents,si
stersandbr others,
Weappr eci
ateourneighbour'
spr osperi
ty,
Wedr essthenaked,
Feedthehungry,contentt
hedi scontented.
Ploughforthewidowandf orgiveothers,
WebecomeoneWor ldFAMILY.

51
Myl
egacy
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Itakeahoet oti
llt
herich-blackSavannah,
Sowt hehy bri
dseedofr oyalgranar
y,
Expectingabumpery i
eldf orthemarket,
Butfloodsswal l
owmymai ze,
Myent ireeff
ortismut i
lated,
Onlygrowi ngasIwi l
t
Intheper f
orati
ngheat ,
Nomar kinthisworld.

AgainItakeanewv entur
e
Reari
ngmanycat tl
etodaythesameway,
TomorrowIshallgetdrumsofmilk,
Andfeedmyent i
rev i
l
lage,
Withmanyservantsundermyempl oy

52
Ibecomet her ichestmanofDande,
Tomor row,Iwasshockedt oast andsti
ll
Mywhol ekraal di
seasedwi t
hanaemi a,
Thel ocomot i
vef r
ames, r
ibcagesofmyher d
Totteri
nganddr oppingdead
Intheswel t
eringheatasIgr owev erold,
Seeingnomar kagai n
Iti
st obemyend.

Wi t
her ward, Iendeav ourt olovei mpart
ial
ly,
Shar i
ngmyscantpossessi onswi t
htheneedy ,
That '
swhenIr eceivednomor eenv y
From t hev astandenv i
ousnei ghbourhood,
IfIquenchNt obolo'
st hirstthent omorrowmay be
Heshal lf
ishmef rom t hatchasm ofhungr yli
ons,
Tomor rowmywi feandmyv ul
nerablechil
dren,
Shall l
iveinpeaceev enaf terIdie,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ilefttheconsumi ngf i
reofl ove,
Ther eshall Isurvivethepossi bi
lit
yofli
v i
ng
ampl it
ude, massr ejoici
ngwhenIam seen.

Iwri
tet
hepoem, t
henovel
Toenvi
sionthepli
abledarkci
ties,
Theworldrecogni
zedmyv isi
onaryjur
isdi
cti
on,
Thusbecamemyaf t
erdeathrealworl
dmar k.

53
TheDuski
ngSun
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Oh!Lookmot her!
R
FO
OT
N

Atthosedehydratedyetdesi
ccat
edl
i
li
es,
Li
chensandMoses, l
aydormant
Nexttotheindecentval
leybasi
n.

Lookmot her,t
hevir
ginMari
ana,
Thesucculenttar
t,
Thecradlemelodyisnomor e,
Bei
ngt hereason,t
hefleshl
eavest
huddi
ng.

Oohmot her,
Ican'tsee
Thespasmodi charvesterofthoseleav
es,
Look!Thebrick-
reddishcarpetofthem,
I
ncri
mi nat
edt ot
hebakedsav annah.

Lookmot
her
!Ourf
oot
pri
ntsofy
est
erday

54
Whenwewer eharvest
ingsweetpapay as,
Thesweetcoconutfr
uitofourvall
ey,
Wesatunderthatoaktreetotel
lhow,
Howyougrazedthesheepofv il
l
ageamongt hat
.

Oohmother!Todayt heval
ley,
Thatv
all
eyisadesol ati
onofSahar
atr
opi
cs,
Thedwalaslaydefeated
I
ntheair
lessscotchingvacuum.

Lookmot her!Nomor efauna

Carpetsouroncebeaut i
fulval
ley,
Themonkey sv oyagedtoseeksol ace,
Vall
eygul lsevanescedtounknownl ands,
Perhapsitshal lr
aintomor r
ow,
Cumul onimbusi scrossi
ngt herecalci
tranty
ell
ow
fur
nace,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Melti
ngt heinnocentazur e.

55
TeaspoonSt
orm
Ther
ear eonlysixli
vesi
nthathome,
Butwhyt hatcursi
ngandcuddli
ng
Thei
rlocutionponti
fi
cat
esthei
rownceci
ty.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Lookattheirlecherouscolours,
Doyouknowwhoconcei vedthem?
Seenowhowt heyraisearms
Agai
nsttheirv er
yownsheep!
Astheysayt heirhocus-pocus,
Whynotst opandt akeacogni ti
vej
nana?

Themassesgul l
ied,
Becauseofi nvi
ncibleampl i
tudeofbl
ackfl
ags,
Thebl ackguerri
l
lasgor e,
Thatmi nori
ty,
theboy cot t
ism, t
heaff
ray
,
Seet hedogsoft heiryard
Theydon' tr
ecogni seyouwheny ouseekref
uge,
Justbehindadol larbuck,
Theirprosperi
tyiswat ered,

56
Bythebl
oodofthei
rownchi
l
dren,
Thei
rownparent
sofhome.

Bl
i
ndDi
ve
Inthisland,mot her,
Wer eyour eadyt oconceiveme?
Ireckon,wear el ostmother,
Look, t
her avenoust hugsvehement l
ystar
eatme,
Ruinouswi nds,thechi l
li
ngcold,squal
l,
fog,mi
st,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

I'
mf razzledwitht hi
sinclementpli
ght.

I
nthisland!Ibegandbeseechy ou
Toconsidermyexi gency,
I
t'
snowaneonsi nceIsoughty ourancil
l
ar y
,
ThatIwanttogeti ntoyouramni oti
csecagai n,
I
nmyf or
merdest iny,i
nthatlandofCanaan
Wherestreamsandr i
vershissinabundantal i
ment
,
Theyneverdesiccatenorrun,
PerhapsIwillr
ecuperateagain,
AndIwi l
ltel
lyouMamawhent otearmeout ,
Aft
erv oy
agingal ongwayf r
om t hiscontusi
on,
Penny-pi
nchinglandofsun.

I
nthisl
andMama,getmebackint
o
Youri
nsi
de,
wit
hFather
,packy
our

57
Possessi
onsandcl
andest
inel
yvamoose.

Thus,toni
ght
, f
ather
,takewit
hy ou,
Yourmannerismsandmanoeuv er,
ThroughtheSierr
a,t
hesummi ts,val
ley
s,
Thedivebombi ngmosquit
oes,
Withsheerbeautyofsnowcappedmount ai
ns.

There,mot
hershallgi
vebir
tht
oal egend
Withthedi
li
gentdexter
it
yyourel
ayed,
ThereweshallseethenewWORLD.

Notint hi
slandmot her,remov emeplease,
I
'm beleagueredenough, perhaps
From neurosis,heart hedullcatt
lebel
l
sloosel
y
Hangingf r
om emaci atedframes,
Thenost al
gicbellofl ostcattl
e
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

From av er
ydi st
antmount ain,
Wheret hekingoft heJungl esings.

58
TheAf
ri
canSeed
Dear,yourt
extur
emanglesmyhear
t,
Probablywit
heuphori
a,
Yourdimpledchocol
atecheeks
Li
kemoi eti
esofpomegranate.

Mypar adi
siacalAngel
eintr
adit
ionalAtt
ir
e
Shall
singamongt heher
baceousli
li
esofour
val
ley,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Seekandhidei naromati
cal
lyfl
avouredworl
d
heart
s.

Yes,Iseeyou, mymot her

'sdesir
e
Yourmount ainouschestannotat
ed
Bytwor ocksdelimi
tati
ngthewet t
ingcleavage,
Throughwhi ch..
.
Justseethegossamerandf l
imsy
Ofdiaphanouslyshampooedhai rcascading.

Thatdaughterofgr assland,
Youlynchupmyt ri
v i
ali
ty
Andy oubr
ingcompl eteness,
Youbr i
ngtranquil
li
tytomyl ust
ful
eyes,
Look!Herreflect
ivebeaut y,

59
Thedrunkeneyest
alksfal
li
ng
Yourommat ophor
ef r
eezesandf
renzi
esme.

Ishall
wanderastray,
Closethoseconsumingeyescatchi
ngmy
fl
oweredbreathe.
Myl ol
,youarewil
l-
o'-
the-
wisp.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

60
TheFal
l
ingSun

Thepungentr eekst enchfrom gar bagedumps

Theri
vuletofr awsewagef rom br okenveins,
Thewaili
ngwaf tingofgasf rom thewi ntertoi
let
,
Thewhollywov enr uggedshant iesofmusi ka!
Thesteami ngst enchofov erspi
ll
ingchamber s,
Theransackingr ascal sofdar kalleys,
Therepugnantr eci pesofcant eensnei ghbouring
publ
i
ct oil
ets,
Thetatt
eredt hugsunderv erandas,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Thetott
eringt eenager samongt hewol fs,
R
FO
OT
N

Thepenny -
pinchi ngpanopl y,
Thepanegy ri
cpar kyv ocal
i
sat i
ons.

Thegiggli
nggunneryagai
nsti
nnocentl
y
beseechi
ngsouls,
Thegrisl
i
estgashesofstal
ebloodinhospi
tal
s.

Butwhyt hatdist
incti
vemi nori
tywi
tht ai
nted
for
tunes.
Theirripplednecksbur sti
ngwithadiposelayer
,
Bulbi
ngbel l
ieswil
li
ngf ornomor esi
zzl i
ng
dosages,
Thef ence, t
heinsularsonsoft hevi
l
lage,
Ravagingandbut cheri
ngv endi
ngmot hers,
Especiallythosestrappingthei
rownsi bli
ngs,
.

61
Themount
ainsl
ayer
s..
..
.Areyou?
!
I
ndeedwher
eshally
oust andatt
hedayofr
apt
ure?

TheBur
ningFl
ower
.
I
tstumbl
esinteet
hingfir
e,
Noonetogradeit
sinsurmountabl
ecal
ami
ti
es,
Nowitcl
ucksforalastki
ck,
I
tssecr
ets,
nohoney ,nosugar
s..
..
.

LikeMungoshi
Cur rentl
ythecomi ngofthedryseason,
Onl ythecl utteri
ngdr yl
eavesundernakedt
rees,
Wi thoutnat ural r
eason,
Andt hecat erpil
larsfal
len
Onl ytolickt her odentashes,
Ev eni nt
omor r
ow'spages,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Iseei ndolentf lashes.

Theduski ngi sst i
ll
.

62
TheBr
ockenTower

..
.hencenomor ebr i
lli
anceitgivet
h,
Butt hefract ur
edr ai
lwaywi res,
Ithinkinduef aculty
,
IstheMoul dingRust yVeinscutof f
Thet rai
npar al
yzed,
Partspar tedpucker ing,
Uncount abl espil
li
ngt eardrops,
It
spar tscr usheduponbr okensouls
Andt hroughbr okenspi r
it
s..
...
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

63
TheRuggedRose
Theclippedsev eredpetals
Themement osIseet or eckon,
Bl
uej aysIsti
llappreciate
Butrealholl
ersofj unglejackal
s
Daughtersdayschewedbybi ti
ngnight
s,
She,theJezebel ofjunglejaguart
arts.

Bl
ownt ocarri
oncr ows
Dragonl eer
stodev ourthewilddaughter
,
Parents!Whatist hat
?Wher eyouawar eofi
t?
Whyl etthatscrapyardatyourwetface?

Wer eyousococksur e,mother

Ofembody i
ngv enom forni
nemonths?
Icryandcr yagainmot her
,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Iseey ourbloodytearsnow.
Don'tworryMama,
Ifeelpit
yformymot herl
and
OnlytheAbr ahamicday swerebet
ter
.

Bl
ueShadows

64
Iwishthosewi l
dparagonplanes
Underthem, wesigned
Ear
supt ocatt
lebell
s,bel
li
esout
Fat
tywi thgoatmilk
Butthatherbageisnowpy redfor
Hearths.
Onlythismistr
iali
nwat er
s.

I
nfrugaleart
hsunbakedsurly
I
tstremorsimmersedhoarybuses
Ofhome
Nomor ethei
rmountai
nlikel
agauge.

I
nthem,t
hemor alcol
l
oquies
Ofpar
ent
s,al
lpassedAWAY.
TheMason-
hornetofthat
cheddagger
s
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Andcr
anesofvall
ey.

Al
labov e,arenowf orsakendays.
Onlythecunni ngthi
eflikepar
sons
Butreverentisfrui
tnotwor d.

Bl
ackLor
ds

65
Thi
scount erpointwit
hcomplexit
ies
Makesmywai li
ngnomor edi
mi nuendo,
Butr
atheracr escendoofamaze,
I
nat ear-
furr
owedconcerto
TheRiversi
deofhome.

ThecoaxingLordsofRings,
Sti
ll
losti
nthelabyri
nths,
West aywit
hothersinthepr
imalj
ungl
e
Drums,suckl
ingicy
-spri
ngs,
thewi
ldberr
ies.

Butwedev outl
ycr
ouchastheHeavenspeaks,
I
nt hatjungle,
mothert
aught
"Asecond'swor dut
ter
edprocr
eat
eslif
eti
me's
regret
".

Theloutsridepaupers,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Tomaket hem windf

all
s
Yeteart
h'st eet
hchewopenbl
arney
Butthetreesareseeing.

St
ateBus
Nomoreskit
ter
yorelse.
..
Onl
ythef
ernsthatbr
eedcutt
ingmosqui
toes,

66
Maimednowt obeatel
ement
aryschool
,
Withi
nnursi
ngani
malsl
ikemosqui
toes
Sewedtosleeponmassmoss,
BecauseIneedwor
k.

Withthi
sbit
termilk,
Iwishtobethatwindofmorr
ow
Topouroutpoolsf r
om ey
esocket
s
MinebutIdon'tknowofwhat
.

Istandont hatt
rai
n'
shalf
-deadhead,
Iti
sonlybet t
ertobeaway,
Isthi
st heday?
Inthisstat
ebus,myCVi smyUSA,
TheLor dsofFir
ms.

Iwil
tforIgoi
nempt y
-handed,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Whitehand-
wri
tt
enpaper s,
Nowdef or
medofthesegr eenl
eav
es,
Baggage!
Teari
ngmywor npockets.

ANi
ghtCal
l

From thatpit
cher
Idrank..
.whenIdidn'
t
S'
ey oubathing,butst
il
lI'
m sor
ry

67
Diana.
I
nt i
ngli
nginsidi
ous,If
orgotmyl
i
ttl
e
radi
o.
Playi
ngtinkl
ingappassi
onato
Ony ourqueenbed

Thatapplepie,
themoi et
ypomegr anat
e
Likeyourglamorcheeks,i
nfruitbowel
Inibbl
edthem.
LikebackingNi
codemus, Isneaked,
I'
m soo-oorymyDiana.

Guess,ifI
'm peepingthroughbath'
sdoor
Likeali
ttl
egoat ,youbleatedmygoldenname
Myhear tmulled.
Iran,dr
ewar edroseatonecol dpl
um fr
uit
Inthati
cebox' smi ddl
e..
.Sorr
ymy
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

MyAf ri
canjoy .

Themor
ningbirdst
hroughmyear
s
Havi
ngmetoday '
sli
ving
Onemoredream.

TheZi
m Seeds
Theymeteanddol eo'erworld'
s
Nymphs,nopseudony msbutr eal
Cogi
tati
on,thei
rcert
it
udewi sdom
Nowf er
ryi
ngpeakcount r
iesbeyondheav
ens.

68
I
nmedi cines,i
ncrowns
Fat
hersf ort
hsplendidfr
uit
s
Toteacht heyappingcurs.
Nevert
helessthesombr etruant
.
Butenvisionvi
brantelmstolead
Thecolour f
ulWesternArmada.

Thesniperli
sperstoenr i
chpauper smind
I
nt hatdi
rect
ion
Buttheslackindol
entshallhoot.
"Youali
en,watisdaai,xenophobianouweer"
Butwisdom isunpardonablethwackt ofool
s.

Ohf orgiv
ethem weerMessiah
Fory ousay"wickedshal
lbecaughtbythei
rown
tr
aps"
But,theZim seed,st
il
lat
inkl
ingvi
stato
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Allwor l
ds.

Yetbecauseweneednewmi nds
Exi
miousidealism andv i
brantact
ivi
sts
Withbountyandqui ddit
y
Weneedamaj esti
cr apportandbeONE!
WEar eneighbours

Wearechil
drenofasingleFat
her
,
Wearethecount r
y
WeareTsa-Alexander
'sHol
ly
Al
l
iance.

69
 G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

BoneAndDog

Thatdétente,nowr el
uctantt
oshare
Tosharet hestolenbone.
Thestolentrombone, scampered
bythefactualfoxbehind
Onlyt
ot akeit,andowet oelegantpuppi
es.

70
Thati
mmor taldog
Laywastesordid,wit
hcohorts.
Sti
l
lboneisunpalatable,
becauseit
'snotyour
s.
Butaday!Thatv i
sagesneershallt
earbl
eed.
Theparchi
ngpuppi esshall
rejoi
ce.

Athandi
sthescuddingfox,
Thewhit
ejackal
saswell
Wit
hoarsAchill
es,
thehappyisl
es
Youshal
labide.

Thewhy!bei
ngadamantwit
hnotf
ory
our
s
Let
'sal
lcat
chthatst
rayDOG
Andbri
ngbackourCanaanBONE.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Mot
her
'sTone
I
twakesupmydozi ngl
eaf
Tor
til
l
asandf ri
jol
essheCooke'
s
I
nfascinat
ions,hert
ocal
ls
Tofeedherkids.

Mama'st
one
I
nanight
,inal
ongwaycount
ry
I
twakesmeup,

71
Theri
chtone,t
ofeedmypocket
wit
hrichgoatmil
kfrom r
ound
Roundgourdbowls.

Mama' stone
Onlytobrightenupmymi ndintoa
Apoetrywor l
d.
Thelovingtone,thatcarr
iesall
mysy mpat
hy
Yetdesisti
ngTopsy -Tur
vy.
Bei
ngherf i
rstfr
uit
,I'
m herli
fe'
sjoy
Herri
chesandwomanhood' simagery
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Leaf
yDeser
t
I
nt hat
,abriefsnowf al
lghost,t
he
ancestr
altr
eest hatsparketh
Ghouli
shgrav erobbingcredi
ts
Thedaybor nspringwat er
,soonconstr
ained
Richl
y,fl
abbybutf asci
natedwitht
oothl
ess
Corpses.

Fathertoldmewhenst i
l
lsuckl
i
ng
This,inleaf
ydesert
Aroundhungr yr
iches

72
Nowcol d,t
hesuccumby earn
Thatinvi
tesli
ons,t
ot r
amplefatleav
es
Ongr eendecayi
ngtrees
I
tsfruit
s,windf
all
snowbi t
ingthedust.

Thevaryi
ngspecieisnowcomi
ng
Comingtoli
fe
Todayortomorrow
Thatnear
ingl
ight. N
OT
FO
R
PR
N
I
N
TI
G

Af
ri
canDr
um
Drum t
hatspeakethreal
it
y
Ever
ycounti
ngt hebeat,
defi
ningminut
e'sf
utur
e
Thosepoundingthuds,t
oexpresst
helong
Li
fe'
smessagecodes.

Thedreamingdrums,tosoundfut
ure
Especi
all
yalongZambeziwetti
ng
OfmyTongat ri
be,wi
thouttear
sofpromi
scui
ty
Butpurpl
eplumes.

Aroundt
hatdrum,thehoneyedv
irgi
n
Applesf
eet
ingtear
ingri
ch-ar
omas-odorear
th

73
Mingl
edwithfragr
antl
i
li
es.
Theli
fescul
ptor,t
hemoulderofv
irt
uosi
ty.

Igrewup, seei
ngthatAfri
candrum
From dyingseasons, speaki
ngwithfadi
ngmoon
From cryingsky,i
tbroughtdarksheetsofr
ain
TheAf r
icandr um,thusmyr out
es.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Dest
iny
'sSt
rengt
h
I
t'
snottaught ,
butborn
Nottoeducatedfools,norrichbuggers
Neit
herprofessor
s,butunknownl earned
Theoneswhosay" grasssings"
andskyisblacktoall.
Butwhit
et opoetr
yexcr et
es.

I
t'
snott aught,
Thosewhobr ingwhatt oeducate
Thoseabov escholarl
ygowns
Withoutpride,yetcreatet
hel ear
nt
Tot eachpridegraduates,sti
llwhosay
Wear eeducated,butnotrichinmind.

74
Becauseyouwer egreed,ofwhatsonsand
Daughter
soffortunedparentst
hought
Toreali
ty,
goodatbl ocki
ngyoung`spr
ogress
Copyunemploymentt ofir
echil
dren
Shameont echnology.

What'
screati
on,tosharetocurr
entworl
d.
Whatthat
'sneverseenbefore.
I
t'
ssti
llagownofki nder
gart
enmyf r
iend.
OK,l
etmef urt
herfeedyou,
Andyourgenerat
ion.

Thi
sCol
dRoom
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Sochill
y,parkyandfr
eezi
ng
Cannotyouheat er
.
Theysayi twon'
tonsl
aught,
those
razzi
ngices.

Atarm'
slengt
h,weare
Whattodo.
Theownercannothearus
Thosest
il
lwall
stoohightoj
ump.

Al
lfatuouscowards
I
ncri
mi nati
ngli
veeggs
I
'm waili
ngup,l
etmedig,
Di
gt hi
swal l
.

75
Thensi mplecut
,disconnectt
hecode
From thismaimi
ngr oom.
Extr
icateandservemygener at
ion.

Rhodesi
anScul
ptur
esque
Redsoil
edmot ors,eart
hyandgr
avy
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Oohno!it
'sancientrust
Notsoi
ledasyout hink
Rustaswe.

Whynotprett
yaswe?
Noo!wearedirt
yt hesame
Wecleanouryards, r
ooms
Whynotourinfi
niteriches?
A'
etheynotours?
Dryvei
nscoll
upsinst upor
Real
ly,
cunt,
twat-snatchkil
ny.
Shoes,f
eelt
hebur nalone.

Whowise,r
emember
Dest
iny
'sst
rengt
h.

76
TheseGoat
s'Song

Heart
hem,t
heirf
alsett
ocry.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

I
nthemoonli
ghtj
ungle
R
FO
OT
N

Deser
ti
ngt
heparahippocampal
gyr
us.

Atsuchyar
dforth,wearel
oanmower
s
Butwhynotbuyingmanmade.
Becausewegrazeonly
,inr
etur
nno
mil
k,aswe.

Iseethegame, l
et'
sgo
Wearenotdirtyasy ouli
p
Penyoursel
f,y
ouwi llseethatwear
e
Same.
Atfr
acasbay,wesi nginhell.

77
Twi
nUni
ty
Theli
ves,weare
Theunionofpeace,weare,
Morall
yvir
tuousfat
hersrosefrom us
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Pati
entl
ycarryi
ngmothersfrom us.
Arabl
edaughterswerecurvedhere.

Str
ength,nour
ishmentfr
om her
e.
Fl
esh'sheartt
hesame
Bl
ood'sli
fethesame
Buttoday,bei
ngmisused.

Ther
e,wisefoolscursed
Sayi
ngifshared,wedisease
I
nabundance, boredom i
ncrease
I
fso,whynotki l
lKaguvi
'ssons
TheNehanda'sdaughters?

Bonkasbaboons,
stupefi
edbymind-
m
mar auder
sfr
om thatnat
ional
for
est

78
Nowhidingy ourownshadow.
Youscattereduslongback
Nomor epeace
Nowandt hen
Ti
llOUR Uni on.

Mot
herJungl
e
Thegr eylaughingmonkey s
I
ncol dcur l
edsilhouet
tes
Charm chirpingbirdsi
nscreechi
nghal
ts.
Thinklessbaboonsofnextdaygay -
bay
Hissingdragonst oscareki
ngf r
oggay
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thecalcul
ati
vejaguar,spri
ghtl
ylikeastal
l
ion
Thus,
hearingpall
etabletunesinmi l
li
on
Thedenselydancingjungl
ey odeli
ng
Thustoshill
y-
shall
yingvil
l
agedr ums,mumbling.

All
succulentfrui
ts,
seeki
ngdiggingteeth.
Thevil
l
ageboy smocked,carr
yingindol
entteet
h.
Motherjungle,i
t'
sonlyasingl
et r
ee.
Sohummi ng,cat
chingmassflee.

Thatful
lwakesmell
,thef
reezi
ngappl
e
Beckoni
ngcolour
,makessweetvi
rgi
nambl
e.

79
Yeomanr
y
Ourpr oduce,
thatf
ail
edt ocomet r
ue
The”Ihav efl
ybl
own”,ofpr oduce
Atthattime,'
postmeridiem'
Trai
nsdi dn'
tcomplet
et hev oyage,
LeadingtoRhodesianmi ll
ers.

Nowthev i
ll
agepainter
,seeksnot
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Cont
inui
tyofthatproduce.
Nowdecay i
ngwhileloaded.
Thepakchoimouldinginthem
Butr
athermockings
Thebett
er,i
mpoundedi npaddedcel
l
.

Nopamperorpanacea,but
Penny
-pi
nchi
ngpanorama.

80
Past
urel
and
Havingonlydot
tedpansy
,
Bearingspot
tedsi
bli
ngs
Becauseofengrossi
ngfl
ycat
cher
.

I
mplanti
ngsuchPandor a'
sbox
I
nthis
Thi
spastureland
Theowner,thenbeingrigger
Ofmil
ler
,thegr ounder
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ofdayoldpar nevu.

Thi
scont aminati
on,ourri
ches
Thefl
uidityofpastur
eland.
Wetoiltowor konit?

81
"
Yesman"
Yesman,areyou?
Thatfi
gure,
noddingtothebluewind
Clappi
ngtotheoldchap'sfol
ktal
es
Ulul
ati
ngtocutter
'sponti
ff
,
Thebloodscreamsofy ourmothers
I
near l
essstr
eets.

Thebrandgangt oy ourf
athers
Theyesman
Sacri
fi
cingthefreesettoroans
Erstt
her eckoni
ng
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thybairnsdreedulethen
Mauny ourainserve.

Thi
s,si
ckdecay
ingdanci
ng
Theyesman.

Nofurt
hercounsel
,thet
hinki
ngpaused
Af
ter"y
es".
Wedie.

82
Pat
het
icFal
l
acy
Thef aff
ingpigeons
Li
steningtof al
sett
oofneighbouri
ng
broi
lers.
Thef anati
cdonkeys,thatsobforhor
ns
Ofthatfar-f
lungterr
it
ory

Thef
atuousst r
aydog,yel
ping
Tobetrackerdogofthat
Dog-
eat-dog'
sworl
ddoom.

Thefacil
efauxpas,y
appi
ng
Thesingi
ngpuppies.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thequeuei
ngpuppiesf orabati
ngmil
k
Motherdyi
ngtomorrow, t
hecoughi
ng
Pat
erfami
li
asatthecollapsingmot
herdy
ingt
oday
Whencockcrows.Thrice

Donkey
sshal
l weepwhil
edigginggr
ave
Faki
ngl
y,
Thepuppi
es'
youlsshal
lnotend.

83
PeachMel
ba

Mypreci
ousDorothy
Ibr
oughthertochestwhil
ekissing
Sheki
ssedmewhi lebroughtt
ochest
Sheel
ectr
if
iedme, andI.
.I
…di..
.e..
d.

Ishockedher,
shesi ghed,"
ouch!thetingl
eAbie"
.
Wedead, bot
hsl i
ppedintothefl
ower edgrav
e.
Thegraveneverseenev entoday.
Manywer enot,butMessiahresur
r ected"
two"to
l
ife.

Isl
i
dwhi ledrunk
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Shefel
lwhiledrunkenofme
R
FO
OT
N

Mypreciousl
yscinti
ll
ati
ngDor
othy
Wekissedwhi l
emel t
ing.

Wemeltedwhileosculati
ng
I
nthatpreci
ousl
ypliablePar
adi
se.

84
Pept
icUl
cer
Becauseofthat
Nolongerfebri
leflow.
Outboundly,
infi
nit
ivegl
ow.
Onlythesabreofsaboteur
Cutalli
ntest
ines.

Productionnomor e,
Thissabr erat
tli
ngi
npept i
cfamil
y
Nopr ocessproceedingproduct
ivi
ty
I
ntestinesblocked,t
ired,
shadowedbypessi
mism
Andnowf lamingsadism.

Herstomachroar s,gr
umbles,hi
sses
Whythespear-cutti
ngutter
?
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Jet
ti
ngarrowsr esti
ngwithi
n
Herabdomen
Canshesurvi
ve?
Whythesolut
ions, sal
ti
ngsores?

85
Day
sGone
Thi
sbl uesky ,mel
tingshy
ly
Atthef all
ingsun,lostamongli
vi
ng
Look,thev ehementmachetesofl
ight
ning
Cutti
ng, zappingGod'ssky.

Pi
ecesofit,
falli
ngfal
l
ing
Upondeadlives
Part
ial
dropsliks
Togreet,
thelogyandwoodyf
lor
ae.

Peopleli
keburntfi
gures
Gatherunderatent.
Lyi
ngaboutonet heychase
Chasinghourl
ytheshadowoft
reesast
he
Sunpasses.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Onl
ywant
edwhensunbl
i
nks
Nomoreday
s.

TheMi
ssi
ngFoot
pri
nt

86
Igothereandher etoo,
Seekingmyspi r
itl
if
e,butcannotberecogni
zed,
Throught hegr
otesque,bamboo,pai
ntwork,
Notawi tnessnorseer,
Notahi stor
y.

Nowf ati
gued, whocansee
Thedy i
ng-pool-t
ear
s,onlymyfootpri
nt
,Overthestreettar
s,and
Ear
thbl i
nders,busyfaki
ngaboutthatfoot
pri
nt
Hooti
ng, hi
ssingandbucking,
Tobemer cerswhil
ebeingslay
ers.

Whythoseweepinglampsifther
eishar
mony
?
Thosecry
ingbehind
No,l
etmer ev
isemyengine
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Andshal
lgetitbackther
efor
e.

We,
Ther
eCel
ebr
ati
on
Wear
ether
e

87
whoknowsourroots!
Whoknowsourthoughts?
Whocaresabout
/forourl
ives?

Wear ethere,sti
ll noanswerf rom wor
ld'
s
mansions.
Exceptstampi ngshoes, atourski
nnybell
i
es,
Sayi
ngwear epr ohibitedthere.
Atyours,yougr i
nandgr ind
Atourdecay i
ngf aces
Star
ingaty ourpr eviousmar ks.

Butwearethere
I
ndecay i
ngwastes,
lickingyourwastesf
ort
he
ni
ght.
Waiti
ngforyoufr
om t hoset
empl es.
Perhapsyoumaybringseeingeyes.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Wear etir
edofcut t
ingwhips
Burningrubberstick,bl
oodycrushi
ngboot
s.
PEOPLE, it
'senough.
Betteryoukil
l,notthissayburni
ng
Becausenoonehear sourni
ghtcri
es.

Wechil
dren,
night
'sdeat
hdoubt
s.
St
il
lnoanswer.

Gogo'
sWeepi
ng

Myi
nsi
desgone

88
Myagi
ngeff
ort
sdr
owned
Mywomanhoodbl
oat
ed.

Imourn,i
nthoseforsakenmount
ains.
A'
ethere,mysons'bones.
Today,l
ooki
ngforfi
rewood,oneeart
hyskul
l
cr
iedatmeasIslid.
Ir
eckon,myfir
stborns.

Oft hatni
ghtf al
l
s,needlesinmy
Skinnybrains.
Todaywecr y
Longt erm mourning,ourfatbeast
s
Stooled,i
nt hosewarybushes.
Daught er
slancinatedinthose
War
ycamps.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

I
'm nothi
ng
Death!Death!Deat
h!
Pl
easef i
nishme
Wraithsar
eatpeace,asIhear
d.

Thi
sGomor
rah
Dri
ppi
ngchewingyel
l
owdevil
s
ToconsumeSamson'scopi
es
I
nthei
rinsi
des,t
hefl
ammingsnakes

89
bl
i
ndi
ngmuskedhuski
es,
li
kesi
zzl
i
ngcor
nfl
akes

I
nt hatdevi
l
'sorchard,f
akey el
l
owf i
gs
Haptu…mal i
ciousglances,r
otteneggs
You!theenti
cedSamsonsandAdams
Can'tyouspli
tthoseairs?
Leavingbl
eedinggums

Bynight,l
ookatt hose"blue"v erandas
Thepuer i
l
e- nakedf l
eshymar auders
Mamacr i
esf orthelostef f
or t
s
Papacriesf orthelostnights.
Yeah
Continue
Yel
lowfur nacespr epared,fory ou,doomed
yel
lows
YouSamsons, ambers,fory ourr edhi
ssi
nghor
ses.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

ToDor
een

Sol
ong,aster
il
edonkey
Ofafar
awaycountr
y,bei
ngcall
ed.
Maninawoman'sbody,nofr
uit.
Toquenchherst
all
i
onchari
oteer'
szeal
.

90
Onlynightearsli
stens,tohergushi ngt
ears
Andf r
om y-fr
onts.
Nowchi ldbe,yetnojubil
eer esi
des.
Yesterday,
gorecur l
edhai rpainti
ngs
Blendingbeefybutcheredf ace
Foll
owedbyehl ovhu'svomi t
sgushes
Spoil
ingthetwo-mont hinf ant
Athermot her'
stermed, frailback.
Herfainttr
ial
stododget hescat teri
ngkick
Whynotshy i
ngthisbri
ghtsky '
sey e?
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

MyCount
ry'
sRoot

I
tsdatel
essgl i
steni
ngs
Taki
ngahi deunderearth'
sface
I
tsblueri
pplesanddunesofZambezi
I
nsicnil
ltello'
eraquat
icshide.

91
Themansionsoffat-roundhi ppos
AndrarehueNyami nyami
OurVicfal
ls,
bathi
ngourf oregonewoes
Ooh!Yetourmaidenhead, Imeant hepr
egnant
HwangeNat i
onalpark,
Cloi
ster
edforgenerations.

Yeah,oursevensl
eeper
s'den
Twas,whoknows?AtChi nhoy
i
YettheBigmanas,alot
..
.
"But
"weenj oy,
wesing.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

82.
TheFor
tunes

I
nsi nki
ngboat
Givi
ngni l
war ni
ngtobli
nki
ngfigur
es
Thest i
l
lbirt
hsbeckon,sti
l
lnurses
Nolifeseen,onlythedr
owning
Crocodil
e,pregnantofmouldi
ngcarcasses.

92
TheRedSea,init
I
tsyoungyokelsbant
eri
ng.
Boi
ster
ousofpassenger'
spocket
s
I
nstil
lni
ghts.

Theli
steningsea
Tocrimsonedwat er
,nomore
Bucks,hoots,
roars.
Somef l
ewt ounknowns
Leavi
ngt heuncusgyri
par
ahi
ppocampal
i
s.

TheDeadSea,onl
ycol
l
idi
ngskel
etons
Markni
ght
'srhyt
hm.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

TheSandbank

Boi
ster
ousstones,teari
ngmy
Pat
chedpockets.
Theusel
esssandi ndoctor
s'bag
Somedy i
ngi
nqui cksand.

Theemptysandtoall
Isawpl
owingthesand,

93
Atpenni
lessbanks,
Sandagaininl
eatherbags,
Sandincar'
spocket.

Butlawyer
sareridofit
Thismatri
cul
ati
ngsandofus.
Isawpeoplequeueingwit
hsandint
hem,
Peoplecomplai
ningaboutsand.

Sandcomplai
nant
s,peopl
esurvi
vi
ng,
Thesonsofsand,
ploughi
ngsand
Whil
edenyi
ngsandlif
e.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

TheDeadBus

Thi
sf ar-
reachi
ng.
I
nthatbel chi
ngbus
Refusingbutbell
i
gerent
Deadr oadjungl
ed.

Today,Isawnoddi ngpassengers
Giggl
i
ng, gi
ggl
ingandgi ggl
ing.
Theconductorissuingti
ckets

94
Whi
l
eface-
muscl
eddr
ivermi
ssi
nggear
s.

Thedeadbus.
Whil
evendi
ngmot her
skickedupsi
dedown
Iwonder
edwherethosepassenger
sweret
aken,
Hopi
ngtocrossRedSeabydeadbus.

GodownMoses
Andbr
ingbackstrayi
ngsoul
s.
Remembert hem
Meafter.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Fool
edSchool
edFool
i
ng.
Mind,tr
ailbutstr
ong
Outpost,nolongerr
easoni
ng
Thengottent owest
ern,hi
dingown.
Hurti
ngfami l
yfood.

Onlywhat,t
oappreciatenei
ghbour'
spotl
uck
Howf ool
edy ou
Desert
ingtostr
angewor ld,
because
Famil
yalimentisst
il
l bei
ngprepar
ed.

95
Whenit'
sready,
youa'
eback.
Yourapaci
ouswolf
s,seet
hisi
dent
it
ycr
isi
s
Star
veforyourf
amil
y,wor
kfori
t.

Thoseal
ienfl
ameswer eri
ght
Nopapereducati
on,butwhatl
i
ght
s,
Sayno"Fat
her"hurt
ing.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

MySi
l
entDog

Mydog
Si
lenttobeviolent
Hecalcul
ates,andbri
ngsf
ort
hinnocentpuppi
es
Tofeet.

Mydog
All
chickens,v
il
lagebul
l
s,donkey
s
Sal
utemydog,
Heswagger stomakenohumor .
Butapeeringsmile.

96
Mydi scri
mi nat
ingdog
Snares,hammer sandl acer
atesbi
gdogs
Nowor r
yf orpuppies.
Abandonedpuppi es,onl
ytoscavenge
indispiri
teduniverse.
Sti
l
lnot hi
ngedi bl
e.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

School
Gir
l
Tomyexistence,
sheknocks.
Soonshequicksinshelockst
hedoor
Herl
aptopathand,"hel
pforassi
gnment
".
Sheyel
ls.

Atmycul t
ch,sheensconce
From mybedr oom, Iscampertopounce.
Thedefeatedblinkstooneanother
Whodef eatedherey ebrows?

Asci
nti
ll
asmileescapesher
Twi
ncloudypengui
ns,nowlooksatfr
onty
arr
ow
AsSant
aclaus,Imadeaprecious,

97
Preci
ousPatedefoi
egras
Justformychocol
atesat
suma.

I
ikedozing,ourprancestosaf
eheav
en
No!no
Forassignmentbut ,
Thereisalacarteinthe
Rosyroomedwool s.

Ti
meForHome
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Let
'spackours,
Ourtr
aveli
ngbags
Oursuit
s,andlookbacktoroot
s,
Therootswhichladenedus,
Thetaprootsofblessi
ngs
Therootsofourdignit
y.

Let'
spackour s
Ourtrav
eli
ngbags
All
thefrui
ts,andgiv
e
Toourlongingfamil
y
Ourpati
entparents.

I
t'
sti
met ogo
Andsuckl
eabundantsol
ace.

98
Di
alectOfHi
l
lPeopl
e
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Theyshallnotsteal,
R
FO
OT
N

Buttheydo,
Theyshallnotbearfalsewitnesses,
Buttheyfal
setosl aughter
.

Dial
ectofhillpeopl
e
Theyshallbri
ngf or
thfr
eedom
Buttheybringoppressi
on
Weshallallshare,
Buttheysharet oown,greedy
.

Dial
ectofhil
lpeople
Thereshall
residepeace,
Butlook,bl
anketsandmushroomsofsmoke,
Sharpevi
l
lebloodbath,t
hescr
eami
ngbull
ets.

99
ComeDownNoah
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Ih'v
etoldall
R
FO
OT
N

Evenants,mice,al
lbaboons,
Thattheplanksshouldbemade
Foryoushallcomewi tht
heplan,
PlanforourArk.

Ih'
vetoldall
Donkeysexceptkingjungl
e,
Bypseudonym, hebutchers.
All
a'ereadyforafeast
Supperfi
res,bei
ngmade
Forsi
zzli
ngchickencooking.

Ih'vetol
dall
,
Couplespeci
esareready
Cleari
ngsbeingmade,

100
Onl
yforbasementofourAr
k.

Gol
denUmbr
ell
a
Cooksbutt
eredporri
dgeforme
Bat
hsmet ochurch
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Bat
hsmewi thkissesaf
termysuckl
i
ng
Embracesmewhenshepr ay
s.

Herteasingl ook,
Ismile,andt hrowmy self
Intohercaringhands, mylovi
ngj
oy
Playi
ngdagger ,shechasesme
Aroundt heroundki t
chen,
Betwixtfather'
sknees, Ihi
de.

Again,
hungry,Ihurryuptoher
Fed,wit
hinhervelvethands
I
'mlull
edtodream.
Herconsumingt one,tobri
ngmef
utur
es,
Herimpeccablesmi l
e,towash
Allmysorrow.

101
Won'
tabandony
ou
Mymother
Myeyes.

Quagmi
reFi
eld

Fi
eldheavi
lyquagmired
Westaggertoplough,
Thefl
eshwakessuf focat
ed
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Bi
rdsstaggerf
orwor ms.
R
FO
OT
N

Fi
eldheavil
yquaked,
Quail
squackingforquango
Withoutaquash,
W'erpanti
ng,butthi
sfi
eld
I
squagmi red.

Fi
eldheavil
ydept
hing,
Theyarenowquav er
ingl
yquer
ulous,
I
t'
sinvi
ncibl
equidproquo.

102
Pandor
a'sBox
Thest eamingbag,
Thebag, withzer
o-sum game,
Zaniestzodiaccontent
s,
Breathingi
tslast
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thesteami ngbag,
Theinfl
i
ct i
on,t
hear t
if
ici
al
I
nerti
a,thosefi
ghtingfoes,
Nevermi ndantsingrassundert
hem.

Thesteamingbag,
Harvest
ingweaponsofdisease,
Erasi
ngtheuphil
lpeopl
e,
ThusPandora'
sbox,
Boxofraisond'
etr
e.

103
CHARI
OTEER

Aman, t
hatman,
Crossedthesky eyplat
eaus
Toreachourspr ingyvi
ll
age,
Samef oll
owedhi m,
Theintentiontotel
l,
Tellt
hecr eati
on.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Aman, thatman
Fl
amedourkr aals,
Butcher
edourweal t
h,
Spanned,pli
ed, windwar ded
Theredhill
s,
Lat
erwewer egi ven,butnever
,
Neverownedt hem.

Aman, t
hatman,
Withhoovedmammal ,
Speaki
ngintongues.

104
Seal
and
Thel
ightbl
uecircl
es,
Thebluemate,
init
Theri
chyacca,Imean
Thepodocar
puspurdi
canus.

Thel i
ghtbluecircl
es,
G
N

Inthem, t
hecoupl esswimming.
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Thosecol ours,t
hestranger
s
Isaw, wouldn'tt
heycolourour
Wat er
?
Thel i
ghtpantoft hem.

Ooh!Thechil
dishbody ,
I
ndishesofwat er
,the
Loudi
ngdishesleavingawake,
I
nourprecioussealand.

105
Cent
erCan'
tHol
d

Cannothol
d,t
hatpoetr
y,
Poetr
yofMaryland,
what?
ThesonsofFrederi
ckDougl
as,
Centr
ecan'
thold.

Thei
nr ushnot i
on,l
ighting,
Li
ght
ingf rom uphil
l,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Thefactual t
ongues, andnow
R
FO
OT
N

Awor d,foryoungwi ndfall

s,
Cent
recan' thold.

Aword,tothispr
e-pr
omi si
ngl
and,
Theet
iquettetor
uinblue,
Bl
ueMot herl
and.

106
Twent
yCent
uri
es

Thedaysofspeakingcl
ouds
Thecl
ouds,conceivedwhi
tesai
ntdov
es,
Theseasofholyghost,
TheWORDupont hesea.

Theri
cewor l
d,t
hecoolwine
Andwheat.
Thesai
ntdaughter
softhesynagogue
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Sai
ntl
yrobbed,t
omeetSonofMan,
R
FO
OT
N

Daught
ersinfewchosen.

WhitebearerFathers,Whit
estoft
ruth,
TheMessi ani
cfaces, st
ari
ngthespeaki
ng,
Speaki
ngheav en,
Aswelltheburningbush,
Butnowi slet
halhistory
.

107
Si
l
enceSur
gedSof
tl
y

Neath,t
hetransi
entr
ush,
Nostirt
hedeadat mosphere
Abovemyl onel
yhead,aprovedper
ambul
ati
ng
Fal
coners,
i
nt hecol
ourproxi
mity
.

Swimmi ngint
hemoon'sli
ght
,
Atmout h,awoodysong,
Ican'tfi
ndmyfell
owstar
s,
Myf ell
owdraf
tsman.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Wher
e'smydawni ngseason?
Thet
hudofgunbut ts,nott
ohear
.
Tomyown, thi
smobi l
ecomputer
,
I
nmyol dschoolbus.

Thecharmsofme, Ri
dzo,Phi
riandTat
so,
Withbooki
shbags
I
nol dbusschool.
Wher et
ogety ouback?
Aloneunderthemoonlight
,Iam.

I
'm her
e,i
ngreens.
Behereguys,
withme
I
nthiswoodyplant
ati
on.

108
Mendi
ngTube
Mendingtube
Withme,inmytoolbox,
Toolsofal
lsquares,
I
nmypur plepockets,nosi
ze.
Thetubeisouti
ngai r
.

Mendingt ube
Let
'sallgatheraroundi
t,
Let
'sallholdsoluti
ons,
Let
'sallholdglues
Andcloset heoutingai
r.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Mendingtube
Let
'sallbri
ngfit
ness,
Let
'sfit
nessbringall,
Li
fecolourgreen.
Welive,fr
om allsquares,
Let
'smendt hehi ssi
ngtube,
AndFog, mist
,iceshallexpi
re.

109
Nei
ghbour
'sAnswer

Seethedryr i
ver,i
nit
Thecranedf i
shingskeletons,
Withfear
sofbi zarr
eboat s,
Thenativ
eBar tonsfrom ironhand.
Forsoday s,t
hewor ldstoppedhanding,
YousaidNo, whychangi ng
"I
'
m able,keepthine,andIkeepmi ne"
Yousaid.

Whyt hesal
ttearsatskeletons,
Deathbeckoningatspringsandseasons.
Ci
rcl
es, wi
thvoicelesscal
ls.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Routesnowgul l
ied,nojoy
R
FO
OT
N

I
nlif
e'srui
ns.

110
Wr
it
er'
sConf
erence

ThroughVenezuelanandBalt
imorepeopl
e,
Journey
man, ther
ewebe
F.Douglastookhisway,Abi
etore
Hisventur
e.

Twor oadsdi ver gedintowoodyforest

,
Intol
ife'smirror sandriggers.
Webe, goldenj ewelsinyokel'
scountr
y.
Somewher ecaught ,
Ifeartospeak.
Theirfatuous, palli
ati
vejudgment.

Itoretoli
fe'
sseason
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Aj ourney
man,withreal
msofgold
R
FO
OT
N

Inoldschooltr
ain,t
heancient
Ear t
hsummonsme,
Yetnoback'sleg,butwings.

Nolongerscotchingwil
der
ness.
Beautytoori
ch,forbookwor
ms,
Foreart
htoodearenough.

111
Sunday
s'Ev
eni
ng

Dawn'sghost
,thetwi
li
ghtai
r
Withgay'
stwi
tter
s.
Shell
sinmuff
ledsound.

Preacherspartedprecari
ously.
Chaoticchoirchil
l
edatopen
Defeatedrains,dr
ippi
ngbyt hatlat
e.
Lateoneev ening,mouldi
ngmumbl i
ngv
oices.

Middlefi
remaskedi ces.
Pathsranintoworld'smap.
Sti
llv
erylesstrav
elled,
Whot orefugee?Allinfest
ed.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR

Sundayevenings
R
FO
OT
N

Weirdtoeart
h'sfoes,
Dulceetdecorum estf
orwho?
Thebasketbread,propat
ri
a,
Mor i
,i
nthi
shi di
ngli
fe.

TheRedHol
es
112
I
nt hem,dayf
lamesghostl
y.
Hearthepant
ingofheavedhol
es'
roof
s
NeaththePol
je'
s
Bl
indingtomachet
es'gl
i
steni
ng.

Tocryi
ngbr ot
her,nomercy
Therust
yf i
guresskit
ti
sh,i
nto
Seepagefutur
eblocks.

Theredholes.
Thesound!Sound!Ayappi
ng.
From Engli
shdog
Huntsintosoi
l'
sbl
ood,
Sokeen,intor
edhole'
srai
nofbl
ood.

Butbeastshid,
asabotage,
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

I
ntostreet'
scorr
idor
s.
Whocanser veli
fe?
Ri
ght'
sj our
ney.

Pl
easur
e
I
nsuchacasedpace

113
Ifound,i
nagony'
sfoot'
sbase
Inoldschool
joy'
strai
n
Thatrhyt
hmicrai
lrock,r
ecei
ptmypai
n.

Ireckon,thesuddeningveget
ati
on
Af r
acturedsight,
popspueril
esupposi
ti
on
Inoldtime'sri
ches,mothervoi
cesli
ber
ty
Ineons,fatherspeechesfr
eedom andfr
ater
nit
y.

Theear
thhungri
lyagapes, quakes"freedom"
Whil
eveget
ati
oncol ourseason's"blossom"
Western
Wagons
Wail
s'wahwah
Thenweunderstandtomi sunderstand
Whynotmisunderst
andt ounder st
and?
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

For
tune

Howsoabenedi
cti
on?
Oft
hoseey
eswhichwit
nesst
hegal
e,

114
Thewindshaki
ngt r
eesandi tst
ongues.
Butwecrushwithfaki
ngey es.
Nocases,att
imesaty ou.
Wepounce,youjustsneer.
Butst
il
lti
meblinksforjudgment

Nolightnev erseen,char m bi
rdsingsmet i
me
Thelifeinfogs, i
nmi st
I
nf i
erychi l
ly.
TheBat emeousoft hose.
Thosest reetshadows
Leaningtol uxuri
antwor ldbanks.
Butstil
lnouncommont houghts.
Oncommont hemes, commonpeopl e,
Andst i
ll
,duski ngnearsdev i
l'
sdawning.
Onlyhummer manknowssun' spurpose.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Di
scr
imi
nat
ingBusSt
op

It
humbeddown,butnost
opping
Tri
ckl
i
ngchi
ll
ybefal
li
ngmysoul,
Thewarmi
ngwarmerspassed

115
Laughingattherever
singhours
darkeningtheobl
iqueshadows,
I
nswel teri
ngsnowcaps
Sti
llref
ugeepassed,hosti
lel
ooks
Sti
llkni
fesmyshamedbr ai
ns.

Iwait,wait
,wait
Thumbedgoes
Aser pentwhooshesi nhouse
Irevi
sedmy self,butIsti
l
llookl
i
keot
her
s;
PerhapsI'm awast e.
Godanswer edt hen,
Lightfl
oodedmyi mage.
Inchill
ypan,I'
m sunbaked.
Butst i
l
lwil
lbet heretoo.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Mor
ningBi
rd

Ki
ssingpet
alsandnect ar
y,
Swif
tasanarrow,bril
l
iantli
keaj
ewel
,
Fl
ewt oanestinr
ichmeadow
Underpomarosatree,j
umpsandjeer
s

116
Atredf l
ower ,overmorethanafew
Bl
ossoms, r
edfl
owersoonembr aced.
Underi t
swi ngs,fl
owerinri
chpumper
Tot heripechokecherr
ies,
Thenl ostfrom t
hesightalong,
Alongst ream'sbend.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Fat
herChr
ist
mas
Ourhome,oncebeenamansi on
Nowthehovelofurchi
ns
Ourcompound,oncebeenelectr
if
ied
Nowtherusteddul
lwires
Ourcl
othesandsheets,oncebeenaromat
ic

117
Nowbl eedsst i
ckyyearedper
cipi
ents
Ourkraal,oncerif
eandr eput
able
Nowbr eedsemaci ateddamsofcat t
lel
i
kegoats
Ourkit
chen, onceoverdosedoffri
esandroast
s
Nowbl i
nkscol dashesandsmoggymaskedpl ates
Ouryard,oncedomest icat
edgame
Nowadr oppingisomen, r
obbedredarr
ows

Nowmot hermour nsforthatofbl

ood,
Outofpsychosi
s, I
'm hereMama
Becausenotallwander er
sgoastr
ay,
I
'm her
eorthere,
Becauseadeepr ootlicksnofr
ost
.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Fr
og'
sSong
Quicksqui
cksi ntomuddy '
smarrow
Hidingf
rom nighteagles
Whenexposed, f
rom plough'
sty
ranny
Tomeetdev il
'
ssi ght
Againoncekicked
Hence,totakethebeel i
ne
Al
readyfastforwardedmyst ri
des,

118
Youthoughtyoumadeit,but
From nobodytosomebody
From nowheretosomewhere,
Youfoe,Ipray.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ret
urni
ngRascal
s

Peeri
ngfrom t
heshiveringday s,
From t
hecompound' sferti
l
eshadows;
Therecame,sonsofsoi l
Desert
ingpantofurnace,
Frost
edbell
iestoappreciatelemon'sbl
ood
Shamingthemselvesforleg'scrackedwheel
.
Suchdeadlyanarr
ow,
I
ntoquaranti
nedscoundr el
s

119
Hootingtoironheart'
sjubi
lee
"Sendushome"
Butwhocar riedyouthere?
Yettimelycurlssewday s'
li
ght
I
nkr aal
'shub, moori
ng
What ,f
orwhaty outi
ll
ed?

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

SweetBed

Ongr oaningday,
I
nAdam' sclot
h,Ihuddle
I
nsi l
k,toreadlif
e'scompleti
on
Pagest orn,al
lpetal
splucked
Pusil
lanimously,mouthsewn,
Sti
tched,butwhycan' twetal
k?

Whi
l
epet
alsr
eci
procat
ed,
pai
ntedmyhear
t

120
Brocken,sl
i
ced
Yetfall
enondi
aphanousf
loor
.

G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Ni
ghtVoy
age
I
nnight'
sbleakingpages
I
,dri
ventodarkness'sages
I
,passedthroughaspeechlesscit
y
St
eppingontodeadshadows' pi
ty
I
nempt yspecks,fl
eshydefeat
ed
Fr
om tal
lbamboos, peeredwit
heredi
mages
Fr
om onest i
llbamboo,fi
rstr
udiment

Dr
agon'
sjebbi
ngj
aponi
casjeeri
ng
Fl
amingt
onguescowar
dlosingmysi
ght

121
Attachedt ostilldeat h,asmanydev
il
stomysi
ght
.
Whyt hisfoolish, thi
ssay '
"Thesonofsoi l
"
Thebet teryousay
"Thesonofcol onisation"
Noour '
sdef inition
Allti
me'sage
Ifi
ndnoposi tion
Onlyremov i
ngcaps
Forgreenl adder 'sfrown
InShame' simpossi bleshoes
I'
mi n.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Wi
l
der
nessHour
Toashini
ngfini
sh,bootsready
Forl
if
e'swagesordeath.
Myheartcurt
icl
edtovir
tuosity'
smar r
ow
Amanofr oots,
goneforal astseen.(gonef
or
good)

Thus,Ipoppedintol
if
e'spastshadows.
Haunti
ngspiri
tpassed
Toseemenomor e,
li
fe'
sruinsgreet
Inoddedtobeal l
owed.

Day
sshepher
ded,
whi
l
ecl
oudofhome

122
Bor
elumi nance'
sdream
Nat
uretransfi
gured,i
nsl eepi
ngbed
Newwor l
dsf l
owed,father,mother
,br
other
s,
Si
ster
s,allbowedforpr ayer.

I
nwi lder
ness'st wili
ght,myapplepie
Myhear t'
shal fsingsbeingoflonely,
Criesendlessly,"
Nowor ryr
edr ose,I
'm
goingforourempi re'
sbuilt
".
Butspearingagonyr eedsmei nfloodedZambez
i.
Bodyi ni
nf rosti
ngbr eezes,Iwasalmost.
Bluejaysuponnearr ocks,pit
ched
Forday '
sresume,
Wher e?Myl if
e'smoi etyknows.
G
N
TI
N
I
PR
R
FO
OT
N

Mal
e'
sRecompense

Cruelmournst her
ebe
Butnonear i
ngear sexceptgrandlions.
Li
felimps,beinghunted,int
odeat h'
schasm
Theopaquegr otesque,
I
fy ouknewy oucanknowwhatIknow,
Becauseuniqueheav ensdemar cate.

Nobicker
ing,beenther
et otur
nthere'
sleaf
Butyounotseeing,t
hechaos,blunder,
Notreadi
ngblood'srai
ngauge.
Thecohesivehomosexualit
yincompany
compound
Womanar emany ,bybir
th,whotoldyou?

123
Lookintoni ght'sshadows.
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