Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Chenjerai Hove

Independence song

Independence song

Independence song

The coming was gold-ridden,
wealth that rinsed blood out of us.
Maybe we just looked,
sharing the amazement of pain
in seeing drunken madness.
We had a noose round our necks
so we tugged,
and cut the choking rope.
Independence came,
but we still had the noose
around our neck.
Still we smell greatness out there
in the decaying abbeys and castles.
So we carry the noose
and beg to be dragged again
in the name of development.
All I know is the land is here
and the people’s bare feet maul the dry earth
till freedom come.
Close

Independence song

The coming was gold-ridden,
wealth that rinsed blood out of us.
Maybe we just looked,
sharing the amazement of pain
in seeing drunken madness.
We had a noose round our necks
so we tugged,
and cut the choking rope.
Independence came,
but we still had the noose
around our neck.
Still we smell greatness out there
in the decaying abbeys and castles.
So we carry the noose
and beg to be dragged again
in the name of development.
All I know is the land is here
and the people’s bare feet maul the dry earth
till freedom come.

Independence song

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère