Botswana – Page 2 – Samuel Rubadiri

100 times

A few weeks ago, my great grandmother turned one hundred years old. Imagine! The world was a very different place. In commemoration of this momentous occasion, I was asked to write a poem for her to be shared on her birthday. Here’s a live recording of it, but I have included the transcript below forContinue reading “100 times”

The A1* is

A stretch of strangersOn a tattooed tongueOvertaking then overtakenBy buses and trucks,Swallowed and spat.We share much common ground,The tread of tyres on the ground — Driving — it comes with camaraderie,Trying to arrive despiteThe hypnotism of waves of bladesOf golden grass and dabs of thorn trees.The glare of the sun watersThe road in a mirageToContinue reading “The A1* is”

Look Beyond Chobe River

Look onto Chobe River.See a scarlet sun sinkOn the horizon. SilhouettesOf reeds and birds and treesAnd herds of buffalos grazing.Look onto the boats on Chobe River.See a marvellous sightOf tourists as silky haired as sunbeams,Downing bottles of wine and cider,Save the few hobby photographers.Look onto the jetty on Chobe River.Before the sight of a pricelessContinue reading “Look Beyond Chobe River”

Altruism?

There is no charity,At least in this city.No work is done for honest gainWithout unknown added costs.Some call them favours,Others incentives.To me, it’s an insecure insurancePolicy to motivate workers,Who will always have a storyWhy the work can’t be done,Without paying for extra labour,For simple services, like fixing a car.It goes in for a usual serviceContinue reading “Altruism?”

Boipuso*

my homeland is a star of forgotten light on quiet nights its descendants dreamof life on stars of silky cloth beyond the heatthey star gaze with fermented grainnumbing 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 upofContinue reading “Boipuso*”