JUST A PASSERBY by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali
I saw them clobber him with kieries,
I heard him scream with pain
like a victim of slaughter;
I smelt fresh blood gush
from his nostrils,
and flow on the street.
I walked into the church,
and knelt in the pew
'Lord! I love you,
I also love my neighbour, Amen.'"
I came out
my heart as light as an angel's kiss
on the cheek of a saintly soul.
Back home I strutted
past a crowd of onlookers.
Then she came in
my woman neighbour:
'Have you heard? They've killed your brother.'
'O! No! I heard nothing. I've been to church.'
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