Robben Island by Pamela Sneed

[conuly]

The only antidote I may have to Trump’s election
is in a small ferry to Robben Island
one that shuttles you to the former prison
where those who fought against apartheid were held
The only answers may be in one wool blanket
a basin
toilet
cell
and the tiny windows of  Robben Island
in the discarded artillery
the rock and the limestone yard
where many were blinded
driven mad
Now the survivors former prisoners
give tours
their faces carved like tree roots exposed
The only answers may be in the surrounding peaks of Table Mountain
its Twelve Apostles
all now standing as testament to what
through years of struggles
can be defeated
overcome

***********

Link

Comments

[spiralsheep]

My government (both parties) keep saying our country should try to be more like Singapore.

Singapore detained an elected MP for 32 years as a political prisoner.

So I suppose in a way my country is becoming more like Singapore... just not in a good way.

Thank you for the poem.

[conuly]

Just so long as they only punish the people I personally don't like, like the gum chewers....

[spiralsheep]

London used to have a more constructive response to chewing gum:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Wilson_(English_artist)

https://benwilsonchewinggumman.com

[adafrog]

Good.