Boipuso*

my homeland is a star of forgotten light 
on quiet nights its descendants dream
of life on stars of silky cloth beyond the heat

they star gaze with fermented grain
numbing their pain of coveted gain 
exclaiming to all who would listen

“there is no future here”

“just a clouded heaven, an empty promise”
dressed in starlight a child speaks up
of a blue and black and white banner
that says there is enough pula* for everyone 

“the land with gold is nothing but snow
take it from me who has been
who has lived in comfort
Greener grass means wetter weather”

“Can you handle that?”

a provoked descendant leans in
he manhandles the child
tearing his dimming collar 
“this is all I have to handle!”

the child falls to the floor
the light forgets itself
both are worse for wear
living in existential fear 

Boipuso: Independence Day (Setswana)

Pula: rain, reign and Botswana’s currency (Setswana)

First published in Kalahari Review