For the Bishop of Namibia

you are standing in the sun

light of Windhoek,

white as the stone walls of

the cathedral.

twenty-one black men stand

with you.

the bells ring and trees watch

silently,

taking note of your names.

somewhere they will be reported.

only in England is the sky grey,

without seams.

here it is hot—burning with

electricity

on the fingertips and tongues.

here the shadows are sharp

and black,

cut deeper than the soil.

their urine soaked wounds

are your own.

today you stand in the sun

light of Windhoek,

untouched by the soothing gospel

songs.

the ocean opens its blue

shining mouth,

and offers the sacrament of

terror.

you swallow it: and live.

This poem was written for Colin Winter, Anglican Bishop-in-exile of Damaraland, Namibia. Bishop Winter was expelled from Namibia in 1972 for his outspoken opposition to the torture and repression of the Vorster government in South Africa. He was living in Oxon, England, and had offices at the Namibia International Peace Center there, when this poem was written.

L.M. Jendrzejczyk was on the staff of the Fellowship of Reconciliation in Nyack, New York, when this poem was written. He has published poems in The Nation and an anthology, For Neruda/For Chile (Beacon Press, Boston).