New Era

Genocide: Waterberg

- * Poem by Ruben Kapimbi

An abattoir of red marrows! A hairdresse­r of tomorrows, Who cut your coiffure?

With noisy hair clippers for ladies A slaughterh­ouse of premature babies!

Waterberg!

Who banqueted at your tsamma melons’ tablecloth? Your aperitifs of Mary cocktails, Like foams on frosty glasses, you drained my identity, Like OMO, you rinsed my hope An abattoir of hominids’ offal! Waterberg!

A menu of squashed tomatoes, and purple-red wine

A return ticket to hell, Like shy pink clouds, A short-lived streak of light in eternal horizonles­s Waterberg!

Flashing your clinkered rocks, Like glowing embers, A simmering three-legged pot of human broth,

A stew of smokeless skulls, A hunter in pursuit of mirages Waterberg!

An oasis of ice-cold beer A butchery of chitterlin­gs Like a chronic boozer, you tanked up my tears! Like a drunkard, you sponged my sweat! Waterberg!

A mellow brandy puking my babalaas

A vineyard of flavourles­s wine youchauffe­uredmeinto­timelessne­ss Like a craving winebibber you chugged my blood and grilled my pride on open fire Waterberg!

A knackers’ yard of menudo

As a tourist in a tomb

A newborn in a blood-spattered womb my shaking tumbler overflows with pus of my caesarean death Waterberg!

Demised hairless skulls

Like boasting pregnant women Genocide foetuses in their bellies A stockyard of chitlins and Tinkling calf ’s urine Waterberg!

A visitor in my backyard! A boemelaar banging a discothequ­e, Announcing my unhurried death Endless teardrops of nursing momma Breastfeed­ing women in a coma A blood-soaked hawthorn’s diaper An abattoir of aborigines’ tripe! Waterberg!

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