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We burn
This is what I know, that we burn
flames lick charred flesh
screams, fear ringing in our ears
dreams to ashes
This is what I know, that we bind
squirming bodies tied down, tormented
screams, fear ringing in our ears
dreams tortured
This is what I know, that we kill
blades swiping infants, eyes gouged
screams, fear ringing in our ears
dreams bled dry
This is what I know, that we blame
words flung stoning to death, everyone but us
screams, fear ringing in our ears,
dreams beaten
This is what I know, that we’re desperate
hearts wretched open, bleeding for hope
screams, fear ringing in our ears
dreams forgotten
This is what I know, that we breathe hatred
fanning, fueling, flaming fire
growing stronger each minute
simmering underneath our skin
This is what I know, that we shame
naked bodies lie bare, their souls melted to tar
The countries’ heads drop
***
This is what I know, that when we burn
our wounds one the same
That everyone from any nation
will squeal and clutch and choose life
This is what I know, that the flames
will rise and whither our faces
That our hope will turn black
and crumble and fall
That our masterpiece will shatter
on knives, freshly sharpened
by our own hands
Our beloved country weeps
Tears fall in remembrance of a time too similar
we never thought we’d see again
yet the tears turn to steam
the ears turn unhearing
the eyes cast down blinded
mouths cringe, unspeaking
Who will save us, if not us!
How I long for HOPE
For a waterfall of tears rushing through
this barren, cracked, incinerated land
Where brutality is drowned
and humanity seeps in deep
Where wounds are soothed
and compassion trickles through
every being
every human
every heart
So we again
may breathe,
may live,
may dream
without fear
Cry, our beloved country, CRY!
Keren Swanson 14.57 on 20/04/2015
In light of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa
