Scream: A Bief History Of Oppression Chapter 02 Poem by Martin Lochner

Scream: A Bief History Of Oppression Chapter 02



*2*



accusing hard-working farmers

encumbered by debt

who combed and levelled thistles and thorns

subduing stubborn veld to create



symmetrical crops and grain fields

who keep the mills grinding

bakery chimneys smoking

between four wired borders

they called their sloth their own

rising before dawn

walking alone into the fields

worries about hail or rain



succoured by a simple

leather bound faith in providence

believing our suffering to be

in proportion to what we can bear

that God controlled our fate

and that of our fragile harvest



red- eyed

sunburnt

we prayed and meditated on an unforgiving land

that thought nothing to miscarriage a good harvest

our way governed by a few non-negotiable principles:

1. do not discredit our God

2. do not deprive us of our land

3. do not disrespect our wives and abuse our children

4. do not touch our guns and never ask to drive our cars



but our generosity to complete strangers is immense

opening up

our koeksister and moer coffee kitchens

inviting them to our dinner tables

warming them with homemade brandy



and percale linen and blankets

sending unknown men and women

from our porches as lifelong friends

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success