Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Chris Magadza

THE HERD BOY

THE HERD BOY

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
Close

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

THE HERD BOY

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère