Galls of Heaven

By Riak Marial Riak, Juba, South Sudan

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Over the hills,

where our eyes play,

in wintry flood and amazing winds

–

We beeline to kiss the wind and it kisses our nose,

Are we happy there then?

–

To see mist rounding the galls of heaven

Seeing our black hearts closed by tears and chased by torrent.

–

Humanity we go,

we pray for our souls that parade behind the yonder galls of mistful heaven

–

And dances beside the churches

Until they leaks.

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We built for our life this ladder of fallest.

We shed the tears and behind the galls of heaven we see our heads in wilderness.

We are lie of ourselves.

–

Footnotes

1. Winter’s flood and the amazing winds
2. There’s no love on earth like where in heaven forgiveness shines upon men
3. Earth here is full of hate waters
4. When we love, we give peace to human life

5. We dance near cemeteries
6. This gloom
7. Where’s light