What a painful parting
After hours and hours of waiting
Followed by hours and hours of hearing
Unrefined songs from minibus touts
Catalyzed by ethanol satchets
Seasoned with 'chingambwe' smoke
Finally, the minibus kicks on
'Farewell boy, say hello to Roy.'
Says a smiling aunt to me
I fork out my arm
Down the road
People, houses, trees whiz past
Vruuuu! beeeeep!
Darkness, darkness at noon
'Farewell soul. say hello to Jesus.'
Says my body
So painful and uncompromising
What a painful parting!
NOTE: chingambwe is a chichewa(local language) word for raw tobacco.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Lovely narrative poem, depicting painful separation of a doting aunty and a well loved nephew. A well articulated piece of poetry nicely penned from the heart. A good one indeed. Thanks for sharing. Please read my poem MANDELA - THE IMMORTAL ICON.