AfroPoets Famous Writers

Waterpot


The daily going out
and coming in
always being hurried
along
like like. cattle

In the evenings
returning from the fields
she tried hard to walk
like a woman
pulling herself erect
with every three or four
steps
pulling herself together
holding herself like
royal cane

And the overseer
hurrying them along
in the quickening darkness

And the overseer sneering
them along in the quickening
darkness

sneered at the pathetic -
the pathetic display
of dignity

O but look
there's a waterpot growing
from her head

Written by Grace Nichols

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