Religion of the Stomach

Religion of the Stomach….


 


 


Where care should have been,


Stood the cactus; their hands in supplication.


The holy temple hoards rats and bats defecating.


The pastor’s son is blessing them.


I washed their dirt linen,


Hanged it dry then pressed it hot.


 


 


Where care should have been;


Vast fields of thorn bushes grew:


At gun point we were ordered;


Tramp the field bare feet!


Might fell our feet fall.


Should one complain: the Cross was shown to us!


 


 


Where care should have been;


As cold as the Northern pole


Hearts became and fit  in the new suit.


Lip service carried the days.


We sung of the Unrisen Lord Christ:


We forgot but never forgave our trespassers.


 


Where care should have been;


Faces paraded litanies of the Stomach,


Politics of absolute Power and Treaties of Monarch!


The Temple Chief Economist’s door was engraved in blood:


OBEDIENCE IS THE REQUISITE TO THE RIGHT TO EAT!


Deformed, we simply obeyed our stomachs….


 


 


7 October 2009

by Musimwa