drought

she can’t crawl yet
but my sassy little daughter
bum-shuffles her way
toward the broadsheet
smirking back at me / in defiance

the paper is open
to a young somali woman
trying to finger-feed rice
to her wasting child

maya stares at them
transfixed

then / trying to catch
the dying baby’s gaze
she lifts chubby brown fingers
to cherubic mouth
& smiles

the young mother
half-turns from the camera
lowers suffering brown eyes

there

drought ravaged
desperate
broken

& but by the grace of god

go i

On Sunday 14 August, I’ll be performing some poems and a Q&A about my writing at the CaribVic Youth Arts Festival in Melbourne which runs from 3pm to 7pm. Other featured artists include artist Tony Phillips, filmmaker Jason Phillips and musician Lloyd Watson-Jones – really looking forward to this one! You can find out more details about this event, how to book, and about the Caribbean Association of Victoria at the CaribVic blog.