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THE HERD BOY
Thirsty rain from
Red hot cloud
Burning dust
Drinking sand river dry.

Bleeding lips sucking
Dry blood of famine breast;
Desiccating wind
On blackened plain blowing
Salt tears on
Ash-blind eyes

Herd boy black in
Skeletal shade
Gulping heat . . .
Coughing draught.



Harare, 1978