Dennis Brutus, 1924 - 2009. Writer, Activist and Humanist

photocredit: Matthew Bradley

For the Children
of our Beautiful Land,
and to the memory
of our Freedom Fighters
who gave their lives ...
__________
 
May Freedom Reign!

Exiles
 
For Serote, Brutus & Makeba
 
Azanian exiles
weeping against the moon,
traversing the shores of strange lands
standing attention to foreign flags
alienated, tolerated nomads
sleeping in cars, park benches
or dining with kings,
I pine for you
with longing that eats my spirit,
tears out my eyes

Hearts reaching out
across the dark distances
where emotions are imprisoned
in the breast
voices crying where others are silent

I hunger for the fire-glow
of your comradeship, and
though our graves
have long been dug out
we smile at death

What some men call beauty
we call pain

Home is no longer home
but a cemetery
for unlived, unrealised dreams
where children seek shade
under trees of dead bones

By the river
by the sea
my soul awaits your home-coming

I am not estranged
from your anguish
you who weep
against the moon
and make your bed
on bramble bush,
I pine for you
with longing
that eats my eyes
and tears out my spirit

From Azanian Love Song by Don Mattera.
[African Perspectives Publishing] 2007.