Chenga the Politician
(2025)
Chenga promised the chief
a mat made of copper.
He told the people
an eel is a snake,
an elephant has hips.
He called a cat a polecat
and said pigs love crows.
He claimed
birds sleep on their backs,
and panthers turn pale in the dark.
The freedom statue has stretch marks,
a fly swatter missed a snail.
He insisted
river water reeks of salt
and soil sweats when it’s hot.
Charmed stone turns into warm bread,
and he has seen smoke without fire.
Chenga the politician
promised the village a chocolate sun.