Blood and Water

Posted bydilmandila

by Elizabeth Muchemwa                                                      Download  pdf epub html

He washes his hands in streams she has made
Rivers flowing beneath her eyes have
salted the land with the acrid taste of her
hate
wells have risen to pool within her
catching thecries that would speak her
hurt
He washes his hands in streams she has made
She dreams sonic dreams with high decibels to end tyranny
with a speak to raise armies and wage wars
He washes his hands in streams she has made
ignoring the pleas of a maiden body slain
in her shame exposed against her will
half drawn clothes   
untidy bundles of blood
laid to waste for a rush
She has made rivers and lakes bitter with the salt of her tears
beneath her breast a molten hold burnishes the light she once had
 into a golden strong finish 
for those that have laid her to waste
This is for the mother
who has stitched another morsel
into one dish of edible corn for our daily bread
Her who has copied the hands of the creator
 and pasted onto the drawing board a new piece  to the picture
so that girls everywhere can smile
She is the surgeon who has carried a knife to battles
to cut open wounds and piece them to their proper places back,
them skins and flesh scurrying to obey her command
she has done so
she has carried life so
She has melded pen and paper to tell a story
 not  worrying
whether the caves within her bring forth life or death
life or death   life or death
the ringing bells toll and call all humankind to rest
but   she does not stop taking  life from death 
life from death  life from death
building bricks upon bricks
stitching together another life in a war zone.

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Elizabeth Muchemwa was the First Runner-Up of the BN Poetry Awards in 2014. Born in Chirumhanzu, Zimbabwe on the 14th of February 1986, Elizabeth Muchemwa is a Poet, Writer and Director for Theatre. Her full names Elizabeth Ruramai Sharon came as a concession between her parents who, at her birth, had each a different name to give her. Elizabeth has been performing Poetry since 2006 in Zimbabwe; she has performed at Festivals like HIFA, Intwasa Arts Festival and Protest Arts International Festival, participated in monthly poetry events like House of Hunger Poetry Slam and Sistaz Open Mic and performed at private functions some of which have included Book Café at 16 years and the launch of the Zimbabwe Market Fair. She has directed plays for the stage; one of them Wedding Day was performed at the Drama for life Festival in 2010 and Intwasa Festival 2010.
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