•

Static Hourglass & Icalo Cabula Imfumu

• Static Hourglass & Icalo Cabula Imfumu

October 24, 2024

by AUSTIN KALUBA

Static Hourglass

Yesterday, it was bows and arrows

Now it is tanks and missiles. 

Thorny olive branches pricking peace makers 

Signing scarlet-stained peace treaties. 

I see moustached, macho men Planning and pointing at alien maps 

Advising leaders behind resolute desks 

Who are deaf to the blaring bugle. 

We are like a sweating jogger on a treadmill 

Neither the Dalai Lama nor the Holy See 

Can stop the haemophilic world

Nor blood-red poppies from sprouting.

*

Icalo Cabula Imfumu


Bushiku bumo takwakabe imfumu, 

Pantu takwakabe abakuteka.

Imbwa ikabwelela mumpanga.

Limo takwakabe bakateka,

Pantu abatekwa bakepaya ababateka, 

Filyafine limo imboo ipaya inkalamo.

Limo takwakabe abakankala,

Pantu tukaleka ukubomfya ulupiya,

Nokoca ubwanga bwapamya abanonka.

Limo takwakabe bashimucindikwa, 

Pantu ili shiwi tukabinda,

Nokusesa inkoko amasako.

Limo takwakabe ukubombela bambi, 

Pantu tukalaibombela,

Tukamone ifite ifitubomfya ifyo fikacita.

Limo takwakabe nokusambilila mumasukulu, 

Pantu icalo ecikalatufunda,

Nobupuba tucankwa nabo ubo twafwala mukati, 

Nge nsengeleti, bukamoneka.

Limo takwakabe imitundu nemishobo,

Pantu bonse tukalalanda umutundu wabuntu, 

Nokukululula ulupungu lwa Babele.

Limo takwakabe nemipaka,

Pantu icalo cikaba cimo.

Tukoca namapaso yakuya kufyalo fimbi.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AUSTIN KALUBA was born in Northern Zambia and studied Journalism at the Africa Literature Centre in Kitwe. He was editor of the Sunday Times of Zambia before being appointed as a diplomat to the United Kingdom. He studied Creative Writing at Oxford University (Department for Continuing Education). His collection of short stories, Mensah’s London Blues and Other Stories, was published in the UK by Carnelian Heart Publishing. He has translated several works into ci-Bemba among them, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Animal Farm and Le Petit Prince. His poetry has appeared in literary journals and anthologies in Europe, Asia and Africa.

*Image by Bentonphotocinema on Pexels