1 post tagged “check points and curfew poetry series”

Check Points and  Curfews

I

The Birthing of Check Points

A man with whom

we share a common ancestry,

claims he has been anointed by God.

We do not see with his eyes.

His disciples, anointed by witches’ oils,

have become invisible,

devour enemy warriors,

drink their blood,

have made themselves invincible.

They leave ashes

where quiet villages stood.

The spirit of revenge

flirt with many hearts

as churches, the sanctuary

of the wretched, gather skeletons.

IV

Curfew

Imprisoned dust to dawn,

women dare not go in labor.

We dare not get bitten by

snake or scorpion. We dare not fall into

a hallucinating malaria fever.

The trip in wheelbarrow

to the nearest healer,

will be our death warrant.

The village comes to life

when the cocks crow.

We close our doors when

chickens nod in their coop.

Do not give the soldier an excuse

to be ”boss-man,” do not give him

a reason to test his weapon.

There might be no time

to place a cross on your grave.

We do not want you buried

like diseased cattle.

© Althea Romeo-Mark  1995           Revised 11.06.09