Dreams Of Brighter Days. Poem by Tazviona Ngwena

Economics of the ignorant,
Dry smiles on cracked lips
Hope for rain on cloudless winter skies.
Torn kites into windless heavens.
Seeds of desperation.
Dreams of brighter days.

Departure of the village boy to University
Mother’s strategy against poverty.
Bags full of wasted traditional foods,
Head full of wasted ‘thou shalt not’s
On a journey to the trusted unknown,
Sent by gamblers throwing cards in good faith.

Of tribe and clan,
Hopes upon a solo.
A rod to fish a thousand:
Expectation of a bumper harvest.
‘At last you are going to university’
Economics of the ignorant.
Trying to glow hopes on frozen ashes!