i am coming home
how long i have missed your red earth
your scent of jacaranda
your balancing rocks and your dazzling smile
but
you are fading
those who loved you once
and vowed to cherish you
men you and i trusted
have violently taken from you, all
that is precious
many of your children who fled in fear, weep
for your pain, and those left behind

nematambudziko

who, out of all the countries
in Africa, consoles you
has anyone tried to clothe your shame
the men who publicly raped you
now pretend to make love
to you in secret
their hearts full of
revulsion with a greed
that feeds only itself