catherine of gulu

The fifth photo of Marcus Bleasdale's First Place, 8-photo story,
"Faith and Fear--Gulu, Northern Uganda" at POYi.org.


caught one night with her parents at bay
hot oil poured from her back to her breast
catherine in the ugandan day
gulu girl one not taken away.

no not one whom at kony's behest
caught one night with her parents at bay
sought escape from the boys forced astray
sudan bound to be raped with the rest.

catherine in the ugandan day
shows her back to a woman's dismay
bares her breast for the babe coddled lest
caught one night with her parents at bay.

shadows hide what the world would betray
she comes forward her writhing confessed
catherine in the ugandan day
gulu girl one not taken away.

africa with our sins unaddressed
caught one night with her parents at bay
catherine in the ugandan day.





04/04/05