Philida squats on the earthen floor
Willempie sucks at her empty breast.
Little Lena whimpers at her side
Belly distended and painful.
The Bishop in his Palace
Sucks at his Sherry
Berating his chaplain
Because his supper is late.
Philida considers praying to the Man God
For food for her family.
She can hear the susurration of Cicadas
A leopard coughs on the veldt.
The Bishop curses his diocese
His flock are ingrates
They do not appreciate
His Godliness.
Philida will walk to Worcester
On the morrow
To offer her body, not to the Man God
But to the white man, for food.
The Bishop dresses in his finery
To show his flock
His superiority
His closeness to God.
Philida tries to soothe the children
She sings softly
'Suffer the children'
As the tears fall.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Owain Glyn
