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Chenjerai Hove

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Original language

power

power

power

this is how we dress
power:
with whistles and muskets and gunpowder
from outriders
flashing lights
smoked glass windows
motorcades
titles
minus handshakes
minus smiles
minus sorrow.
we dress power
like a pestilence.

© 1998, Chenjerai Hove
From: Rainbows in the Dust
Publisher: Baobab Books, Harare

Chenjerai Hove

Chenjerai Hove

(Zimbabwe, 1956 - 2015)

Born near Zvishavane in 1956, poet, novelist and social commentator Chenjerai Hove lived in exile in Europe toward the end of his life. His critical social and political commentary in the weekly newspaper The Standard (2000-2002) gave rise to threats that he was forced to take seriously. For a creative writer who cared deeply about his country’s welfare, leaving was a moment of profound loss. A...

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Poems of Chenjerai Hove

power

‘Boy’

Child’s parliament

refuse

a poem for Zimbabwe

Independence song

to a dictator

A War-time Wife

on being asked for a ruling party membership card

we

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power

this is how we dress
power:
with whistles and muskets and gunpowder
from outriders
flashing lights
smoked glass windows
motorcades
titles
minus handshakes
minus smiles
minus sorrow.
we dress power
like a pestilence.

From: Rainbows in the Dust

power

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