*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
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