Fill this longitudinal tongue of fire
with the ink it needs to breathe.
Blow the floaties of dandelion seeds
on these spirit eyes so they can see
the beauty of true poetry. Last night they saw
Sello Duiker in a shower of light, but now they swim in dark.

God of Upile Chisala,
Anoint this shadow of art growing in the backyard with the calling.
God of Upile Chisala,
A passenger decorated in a red, black and white sangoma’s sarong
has alighted, but has left the hairs of her traditional stethoscope
tickling my nose.

I fall sick, and wait for the call of the shaman muse.