WE WERE TOLD

We were told not
to sit on crossroads
in the dark
for the cardinal points
of the earth
converge with
our carnal desires

and like the sun
not to look at Magji
in the eye
for we may be
blinded by his wisdom

We were told never
ever to eat
with our left hands
and above all
never to take money
with the left

so when Marx died
we robbed our banks
washed our hands
and laughed

And we were told
not to stay too long
in the river
even the log
has not turned into
a croc, they said

We were asked
to stand
on the roadside
and wave
our flags
and sing hymns
of nationhood

and soon we picked up
their refrain:
“Hurrah, we’re independent!”.



From “Recollections of a Lost Century” by Hamadi Banna










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