(no subject)
THEY TOOK HER SON
because Sha-Ge her husband had been seen,
and caught sowing sorghum on land not his
since the colonizers came. Story is,
he ran away when chased and hid between
the branches of the holy tree. He stayed,
turned to asceticism, was renowned
for breaking ties and leaving what he owned.
She cursed him when they came, a gray brigade
to seize the son for misdeeds of his sire.
They dragged his body, thin with cruel want,
his mother clutched his hand with anguish, gaunt.
They beat him 'til his body seized, expired.
Three thin skin bags of bones go rattle-shake.
Three relics do the heartsick faithful take.