Monday, October 20, 2014

The Ethiopian Coptic Cross






(made from old bullet cases)

Bullet cases from the Sahara,
poor brass discarded
in the shifting sands
from forgotten wars,
one tribe settling
scores of ancient hate
till all memory is lost
of the original sin.

New sins blossom,
the only flowers
in a land where
starving goats hunt
last year’s pods
under dead trees,
and a boy child
watching the hills
balances a rifle
across his knees.

The old man hammers
out of the bullets
holy crosses
whose patterns
hold hands in a
splendour of promise.


©Anne Chappel

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