Echoes of War: Poems
Hera de Jesus
In memory of our heroes,
holding ballots,
chanting hymns.
We mourn you,
Mozambique.
Clenched fists,
we tear the veins of this land,
crying for justice.
each tiny moving change.
a breath.
We no longer sing.
The sun of June
will always shine,
but we shout-
the sun of October
will triumph.
For the innocent
blood shed,
we will not be silenced,
we will not let them steal
our dream.
We mourn you,
Mozambique.
We are orphans,
hungry, seeking
freedom.
Free us, beloved land,
from the hands
of the oppressor.
Mozambique,
are we your children,
or your servants?
We are-
Mozambique.
The Dream
Let us not tire
of building
dreams,
even if they are
intangible.
Let us not tire
of believing in today,
in the now.
We are capable
of bringing down walls,
without weapons.
Let us not tire of fighting,
fighting
for the silenced voices,
for the dreams
amputated by mediocrity.
Fighting
for who we are today
and for who we want to be
tomorrow.
Let us not
tire.
Funeral Festivities
In these
festivities,
no chunks
of meat
will be grilled.
Today,
the celebration
will be in the streets.
red
that will flow
will be blood-
fresh blood,
from innocent
lives.
It will be
a grand celebration.
No fireworks,
no bottles
of champagne.
We will dance
to the thunder
of blazing guns.
Tear gas,
to taste.
The only
chunks of flesh
we’ll stitch
will be
the wounds.
In these
funeral festivities,
we will light
a candle
of hope
for you,
my beautiful Mozambique.
Hera de Jesus is a Mozambican poet born in Maputo, recognized for her profound and intense writing that explores themes of love, identity, and social issues. Her work combines everyday experiences with philosophical reflection, focusing on female empowerment and the representation of women in literature. Some of her notable works, including “Magaiza,” “Identidade,” and ” Verdades que Jamais Revelaste,” resonate deeply with readers. Hera has been published in Lusophone and Mozambican literary magazines and has contributed to both national and international anthologies. Her ongoing contributions to Mozambican literature continue to inspire and influence new generations, securing her place in contemporary African literature.
*Image by Mister Paps on Unsplash
