Poem
Dambudzo Marechera
For Bettina, a Tuesday Prologue
From nightsky’s black earthRare lilies, like stars,
Flower into life, yours and mine.
Orion, Andromeda, these startling sickles.
Of each our nights, recumbent beyond mere mortal
Rest, are not fixed but pliant to our motion
When courage lip to lip embraces despair.
Do not to the deep sorrow surrender
But ever twine upward to the silver light
Eyes a blast furnace terror to untruth.
Through windowpane I view the wide vistas
Of improbability become possible, hugging each to
Other in heartrending love: no more the one step
That’s a giant stride for mankind, but you and I
In fiery leap burning bright become starfruits
Over stony ground.
© Translation: 1986, Dambudzo Marechera and Bettina Schmidt
FOR BETTINA, A TUESDAY PROLOGUE
© 1986, Dambudzo Marechera and Bettina Schmidt
Poems
Poems of Dambudzo Marechera
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For Bettina, a Tuesday Prologue
From nightsky’s black earthRare lilies, like stars,
Flower into life, yours and mine.
Orion, Andromeda, these startling sickles.
Of each our nights, recumbent beyond mere mortal
Rest, are not fixed but pliant to our motion
When courage lip to lip embraces despair.
Do not to the deep sorrow surrender
But ever twine upward to the silver light
Eyes a blast furnace terror to untruth.
Through windowpane I view the wide vistas
Of improbability become possible, hugging each to
Other in heartrending love: no more the one step
That’s a giant stride for mankind, but you and I
In fiery leap burning bright become starfruits
Over stony ground.
© 1986, Dambudzo Marechera and Bettina Schmidt
For Bettina, a Tuesday Prologue
From nightsky’s black earthRare lilies, like stars,
Flower into life, yours and mine.
Orion, Andromeda, these startling sickles.
Of each our nights, recumbent beyond mere mortal
Rest, are not fixed but pliant to our motion
When courage lip to lip embraces despair.
Do not to the deep sorrow surrender
But ever twine upward to the silver light
Eyes a blast furnace terror to untruth.
Through windowpane I view the wide vistas
Of improbability become possible, hugging each to
Other in heartrending love: no more the one step
That’s a giant stride for mankind, but you and I
In fiery leap burning bright become starfruits
Over stony ground.
© 1986, Dambudzo Marechera and Bettina Schmidt
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