Chirikure Chirikure Poems

Sitting in the white wintry sun
Watching birds winging in total peace
The mind switches to one's bare feet:
...

In the work place, the whole day, it's 'yes, yes'.
This is the official language of the office!

At home, the whole family goes 'yes, yes'.
...

It is Heroes Day holiday,
To commemorate those
Who put their country first
And thought nothing of themselves.
...

(on the advent of ESAP)


Father, I don't understand -
You knock on my door at this ungodly hour
...

Every face encountered
the same question
about places I have been
...

Just listen to yourselves talking -
The family is no more!
So, the family is no more, is it?
Tell me: what are you?
...

I am not stone, chicken or even wind, no!

There was something that bound me to my mother, in her womb,
For nine months, and I did not lack for food.
There is something that unites me with the human family on earth,
...

Those stories about
Children singing and dancing
To celebrate and welcome thunder and lightning
Racing each other in the downpour
...

At night before we sleep, we say, 'See you tomorrow',
There is no point in saying, 'Sleep well',
It is clear to all of us - babies, boys, old folk -
The slushy muddy earth is our bed, the biting wind our blanket
...

Inzwai!
We, in diaspora, overseas, fought this war,
We sourced donations and mobilised foreign support
Yet we never lagged behind in our studies, preparing for the future of our country
...