The Curtain Poem by Isaac Maliya

Behind it I lie, we lie
Anticipating condemnation
That of the unknown
It is our separator.

Behind it lies suffering
The boots of law enforcers
The tyranny of the smell
The filthiness of the bathrooms
The cries of the hunger-stricken
The curtain divides us.

Behind it lies unknown hope
Of its being torn apart
Then I will sing to you
A song of our reunion
The curtain succumbing to justice.

Dedication: To Vitta, my wife,
an ardent fighter for
my freedom.

Tuesday,9th May 1995.
Nampula, Mozambique.