Epiphanie Mukusano is originally from Rwanda where she used to be a teacher. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature and now lives as a refugee in Cape Town with her husband and children. Her poems have been published in Living on the Fence (2007) a collection of writing by women who are refugees from various countries in Africa. Epiphanie contributed When a name is lost to the collection of birth stories Just keep breathing (Jacana, 2008) and most recently, Cambridge University Press has published her children’s story Shema and the goat (2009). Epiphanie’s poem comes from her first poetry collection ‘Kilimanjaro on my lap’.
Flickering yet burning bright
Green breath, the smell of mint
This wicked wind will try in vain
To blow you out
On the other side of the street
Impatient hands are waiting
To hold you burning bright
This wicked win will try in vain
To blow you out
Spreading
HIV and swine flue
Distorting economies
Turning brother on brother
Heating the skin of our mother earth
This wicked wind will try in vain
Because stone men and women
With unyielding faith
Are busy building
A gigantic shield