A broken tulip

Kigali.

City of lights,

city of tears.

 

Stars climb

up rolling hills,

freefall into valleys,

hide in the wrinkles.

 

Your lights, Kigali,

nothing static here.

Inhaling and exhaling,

a galaxy alive.

 

Your tears, Kigali,

soft splashes,

fracturing your face

into a thousand whispers.

 

Kigali,

you blinking Rwandan giant,

what secrets could your hills tell,

what sorrow and slaughter,

what stories of salvation?

 

Your lights do not speak,

Your tears are silent.

 

Kigali,

city of lights,

city of tears,

sleep in peace tonight.