Ode to a dead comrade

September 25, 2008 by Chief K.Masimba Biriwasha ·
Filed under: Poetry

Here,
near a mount of fresh earth,
this star
born of a peasant
woman,
a visionary,
that fought human made chains,
is now boxed
lifeless,

Everywhere,
round his solitary confinement
are tears and sniffles,
Muffled words recount this dead comrade’s great deeds,
of how he fought
and lived through
reigns of terror and
black-pitched moments,

Now, the box is opened
For us to bid last goodbyes -
As he goes back to mother earth’s free embrace
Tattooed on his head
Is the struggle - the good fight
That he fought
While lily-hearted livers watched from afar
But wished the dead comrade could live to see another day

So though silent, he lies
in that cold box, the fire
he blew fills our ligaments

And with faithful souls,
we follow his steps
So death, you should not be proud
for what you stole rises again in our spirits,
Awakening a newly-spirited quest

To the struggle,
We say: “Aluta continua!”
Even if we die to free our souls,
In the dead comrade’s footsteps
We will carve freedom’s path.

Tell the world: