On a recent African trip, we spent time at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda. A profoundly disturbing place, the Memorial commemorates the Rwandan genocide which was launched some twenty-five years ago. They say that over one million men, women and children died, and that as as many as 250,000 are buried on the site of the Memorial. Bewildered, overcome and overwhelmed, I stepped outside into the garden and sat, eyes closed. I simply tried to feel the energy of the place. Below is the piece that emerged….
Remember
the birds fed here
and the dogs — there are always
dogs. the dirt aches, an endless low
moan. someone laughs, but the ache
continues. the shadows here
taste like salt
the souls of the children
hide in the trees, watching
they do not laugh, will never
laugh. silent and alone
they wait for rain
note- the image above is a photo of a piece by Daniel Arsham on exhibit in the Moco Museum, Amsterdam in September, 2019.
© 2019 jafink/oldbonesnewsnow.com