sudanese lips

my daughter

my son

with your hiv blood

and your tar-blackened lungs inside

send up a prayer from your thick

fleshy tongues to above

heaven be willing

and devils be slow

either take both my children away from me or

fatten my stomach off the blood of the working

and the blood of the hopelessly poor

away from me

always go far from me

away from me

quickly go far from me

fictional flies upon sudanese lips: subterfuge

separate marrow that spins round within centrifuges

my son and my daughter

you are cannon fodder for the institution stronger than you

send out a warcry

be brave before you die

and sink when the water drowns you

my daughter

my son

with your hiv blood

and your eyesight and hearing abused

fatten my pockets

i will make you iconic

and once you're fine

always confused

away from me

always go far from me

away from me

quickly go far from me

fictional flies upon sudanese lips: subterfuge

separate marrow that spins round within centrifuges