Escape from Blood Diamond

Photo Courtesy of Culanth

Escape from Blood Diamond

"This is dark, but this is survival," he said.

He dug deep found the pearl among the swine.

But they found him, hidden amongst the thicket, glazed with dust and sprinkled water.

Stranger in their eyes, he clasped his jewel in the palm of his hands, held onto it, like “manna” in the desert.

Boa, stared right beneath their stare and saw the green look in their eyes.

He knew he would be isolated, made into an alien in his own village.

He saw the Bullets of war, polished with raw blood, sparkling in the dusty roads.

Bruised bodies, emerging from the ground.

The ground of riches, the earth of diamonds.

Their fingers dripping with blood, diamonds clasped tightly in their arms.

The crystal left them with broken arms, plunging faces coated with thin bones edging into their dusty skin.

Boa knew he was next, to be hit hard with steel-iron, fired with greed.

He swore to them he had nothing, tears curving down his wrinkled face, a sign of his sincere heart.

He looked up to the dark sky, if he had one wish? He would choose life…

A life that he left behind, his wife Lempelo scarred with a humble heart, Zara his little hatchling, chode the brave boy and pahelo the playful one who always waited for papa to come home.

His only hope was the tiny diamond inched beside his fingers.

Boa prowled forward, he was the last man standing staring into the dead sea of bodies. He chanted his last prayer, and awaited the sound of the metal, the guns of death.

He bowed his head and waited...

They mocked him, ' Go thee and spread the news, you are our dead man walking, vanish from our sight”

It was like a song to his ears! He ran never looking back. His heart leaping, and his feet as light as the tiny metal he held in his hands. He crossed his fingers! He wasn't leaving anything to chance!