A Widow's Chant Poem by Woelinam DziewornuNorvor

A widow's Chant

Throw me into the streets

And let me eat the dust of the earth

Sound the dreams and strip me with your shifty eyes

Till I lose my mind



Shave me bald

And scrap my pubics with broken bottles

Make slaves of my children

Till they become scum of the earth



Sing dirges for me while I live

And invite death to dine with me

Starve me,

Till my bony frame scares vultures away


Call me mother of witchery

And burn me at the stake

Let the smoke rise into the skies

Till widowhood is no more