Sis, throw the ball to me
and i will throw it back to you
so life goes...
stop tormenting
the poverty-stricken soul
by wandering in the stinking city
to meet our mad brothers
enslaved by slay queens
which do not speak our language
do not eat our food
and do not drink our herbs
please, do not trouble yourself
they will shout at you
as though by simply digging up
the relationship you are a fool
remain here, live your life
or your days will be less
from the weight of their ridicule
sometimes from their children
who think tatters are for witches
they will not greet you
they will not allow you
to use their expensive plates
but will throw muddy water
near your bleeding toes
wisdom is lost
intelligence misplaced
and these are people whom we trust
they will solve our problems
Sis, forget it
they have their own problems
nowdays, the colour of their skin
displeases them
speaking the mother tongue
and everything that smells
of the village make them sick
Sis, leave them alone
at least they know
we are part of them
time will force them to meet us
throw the ball back to me.
*William Khalipwina Mpina is
a Malawian poet, fiction writer, Economist and teacher. Many of his works
appear in international literature magazines such as Atunis Poetry, African
Writer, Kalahari review, Literary Shanghai, Writers Space Africa, Nthanda
Review, Scribble Publication, Poetica Magazine and Expound; and in nine local
anthologies. His books include Shattered Dreams (2019), Blood Suckers (2019),
Shadows of Death and other poems (2016), Namayeni (2019) and Njiru (2003).
