Nuba
walking out of one war
beauty beaded, scarred to stand
bearing oneself with pride
crops by the door
crops high, away
crops the rain's to tend
everything's athletic
all of the past
the body shows
war is like the weather here
walking from mountains
into these others
between the book
and what's alive
who keeps the peace?
the grass comes fire
everything useful leant
by the wall
who makes the rain?
who will be possessed?
nothing is more
than how the head's held
no one is painted today
sleep in the round
thatched to a point
about the fire
sit stories till bed
chickens and donkeys
cows sleep while we tell
all the day done, all days before
thatched daub, sorghum stalks
and straw, fence of the tog
roof high, for goats
for roosters and hens
Nuba rest on a baobab rope bed
climb a ladder, dive in for grain
pumpkins and beans
corn by the door
and peanuts are far
war has been like weather here
walks from mountains
into these others
how many cattle today? how'd-you-do?
you won't come easy here
you won't come easy away
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