Mazisi Kunene - Europe

 


Europe, your foundations

Are laid on a rough stones

Your heart is like cobwebs

That are dry in the desert.


Your children fill us with fear:

They are like young of a puff adder

Who devour the flesh of their parent.


Once I believed the tales

Once I believed you had breasts

Overflowing with milk


I saw you rushing with book

From which the oracles derive their prophesies.

I heard you in the forest

Crying like wolves

Breaking the bones of your clans


I know the hardness of your visions:

You closed the doors

And chose the bridegroom of steel.


You chose her not to love

But because she alone remained

Dedicated to silence.


From her you made your prophesies

And summoned the oracles:

You laughed at the blind men,

Struggling in this great night.


Children have inherited the fire.

They blow its flames to the skies

Burning others in their sleep.


What will the sun say?

The sun will laugh

Because

 it burnt our cradles from age to age