In His Village

 

By Morategi Kgomokhumo

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When the sun comes up in his village

the loneliness leaves his bones

and sojourns to a place hitherto unknown.

He springs to life like a flame that

threatens to burn the pastures.

 

When the sun comes up in his village

it's them the young 'urns that kindle the fire,

their eyes no longer on the abyss that swallows joy

wide-eyed, awake, expectant

 

although his kin,

the adults

lie still and free in bolted coffins,

the arrival of the sun frees him of his burden

and he can, again, run with the hot desert wind.

 

When the sun comes up in his village

playtime wards away the hunger

and for a while he forgets

the meal he will gnaw in silent shame

when the sun goes to die,

the boiled bones of his ancestors