by Chimwemwe Undi

At the crux of two rivers that hold

more than they wash away

an imperfect city stands, restless

in the heat of its own light

aglow in grin, gleaming from one

bundled-up neighbour to another

waving a glove-clad good morning

aglow in bright eyes

as learners file into classrooms

to take in new wisdom

and churn out tomorrow.

aglow from the sun,

glinting on the Golden Boy,

glancing down at a city

that spends each day learning

& loving,

& overcoming,

& looking fearlessly into its own flaws

& renaming them lessons

in forgiveness

in growth

in relentless hope.

The tale of two rivers

of one city

whose story is still being written

crafted by unsure hands,

building, breaking

bread, holding on

to each other, taking up

pencil & paintbrush & laser pointer,

coming together, determined

to tell our own tale, to say something

beautiful about ourselves

and to make it true.