Photograph of Earth
From Space
On the outskirts of Luanda, Angola,
Gerald Nduma has walked an hour to
school
carrying his chair, which is really
an empty coffee can. Nine years old,
he holds in his other hand a mango which
will be his lunch.At school,
which is really a tree, Gerald
places his lunch beneath his chair.
This day, a missionary has come
With magazines. Gerald takes what
is given him. Soon he does not hear
the teacher’s instructions. He does
not hear
the students’ chatter. He is looking
at the photograph of Earth
floating in a dark sea
which Gerald imagines
is plenteous with fish.
By Pamela Porter
Courtesy Poets.ca
The League of Canadian Poets
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