The Paris Review

Two Poems by Cheswayo Mphanza

AT DAVID LIVINGSTONE’S STATUE

for Harry Mphanza

We have changed a great many of our colonial place names since independence, but we have kept the name of Livingstone out of a deep respect. —Siloka Mukuni, chief of the Leya People

At the onset of my ingenious plan, the sun barely shonethrough the mist.I struggled with a name to identify the rushesof water pouring beside me.

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