An Abandonded Bundle ~ Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali

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The morning mist 


and chimney smoke


of White City Jabavu 


flowed thick yellow

as pus oozing

from a gigantic sore.

It smothered our little houses


like fish caught in a net.

draped in red bandanas of blood

fought fiercely

for a squirming bundle.

I threw a brick;


they bared fangs


flicked velvet tongues of scarlet


and scurried away;


leaving a mutilated corpse - 


an infant dumped on a rubbish heap


'Oh! Baby in the Manger


sleep well
on human dung.'

Its mother


had melted into the rays of the rising sun,


her face glittering with innocence


her heart as pure as untrampled dew.












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