ZONE POETICA

WHAT SHE IS DOING (DEDICATED TO CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE; AUTHOR OF THE NOVELS PURPLE HIBISCUS AND HALF OF A YELLOW SUN AND WINNER OF THE 2007 ORANGE BOOK PRIZE)

She teaches us to
Number our days
To wonder at
How far we have wandered
Too indifferent
To be bothered
About our states
So so withered
She advocates a
Clean swipe of
Our hearts’ slates
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more


She comes as an emissary
With peace offerings
From a land
Where she has learned
And is willing
To teach us all
How to live
And love again
To make the sincere move
From a factitious civil war
To strong brotherhood
Therefore, we bid you, our daughter
Do these and much more


She sounds the alarm cry
That we are being
Battered and bruised
With an eroding sense
Of self and worth;
Our common patrimony stolen
In exchange for
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN
That shines at half-mast
At our sorry cast
She rouses us to rise
And fight for our rights;
The coveted wreath
Of a PURPLE HIBISCUS
Therefore, we bid you our daughter
Do these and much more