Places Found in Fiction

Every face encountered
the same question
about places I have been

Only the heart answers
the mouth is feeble, but
what is in the heart fills the granary

all the dreamy faces will still be dreaming
incredulity,
posing more questions of wonder
asking again about where you have
journeyed.

I answer promptly
I was in the land of silent echoes, and
The sands of Timbuctu

They shake their heads like bulls
laughing in mockery as they drink:
such places are only of fiction.

I bow my head
consoling my heart with soothing words:
the blessing in the heart is mine.

Nzvimbo dzemumabhuku

Nzvimbo dzemumabhuku

wese andaita mahwekwe naye
mubvunzo ndiwo mumwe chete:
kwakadini kwamanga mapota?


mhinduro ndiopa yepasi pemoyo:
kutaura zvese handingakwanisi,
zvakapinda mumusoro zvinozadza dura


vose vanozoita kunge vapatika kyuhope,
vobvunza zvakare, uso vakasunga:
gara zviya ndepiko kwawaiva?


Handinonoki kudzora mhinduro:
ndaiveko kunyika yemutsindo,
kumatuhnhu emuzinda we Timbouctou.


vese vanokapaza misoro semabhuru,
vopfipfidza vachinwa rukweza rwavo:
nzvimbo dzakadaro ndezdzemumabhuku chete.


ndinotsikisira wangu musoro pasi,
ndozvipodza hana nemashoko mumoyo:
ndakakomorerwa ndakazvionera pamhino sefodya.