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On the outskirts of Luanda, Angola,
Gerald Nduma has walked an hour to school
carrying his chair, which is really
an empty coffee can. Nine years old,
he holds in his other hand a mango
which will be his lunch. At school,
which is really a tree, Gerald
places his lunch beneath his chair.
This day, a missionary has come
with magazines. Gerald takes what
is given him. Soon he does not hear
the teacher’s instructions. He does not hear
the students’ chatter. He is looking
at the photograph of Earth
floating in a dark sea
which Gerald imagines
is plenteous with fish.
From Cathedral (Ronsdale Press, 2010)
Used with the author's permission.
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Pamela Porter lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of rescued horses, dogs, and cats, including a formerly wild mustang. The author of three poetry collections, Pamela won the 2005 Canadian Governor General's Award for her novel, The Crazy Man. In addition to teaching at colleges and universities in both the U.S. and Canada, Pamela has traveled extensively in Africa and South America to assist children in need through both her words and actions. One of her favorite organizations is the Osu Children's Library Fund.
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EstherJ:
Love this one!
Posted 10/08/2025 11:40 AM
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Larry Schug:
My favorite photo of all time. Still thinking about it. Gerald is very skillfully portrayed. This poem is worth many readings.
Posted 10/08/2025 11:35 AM
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Paloma_Bergdorf:
Beautiful!!
Posted 10/17/2010 04:53 PM
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Reganz:
I see two worlds, both part of the one larger world floating in a dark sea. Gerald with his two names: the first, a "Christian" name we all recognize and can pronounce; the second, Nduma, African and exotic. The missionaries bring pictures of the world beyond the tree. Gerald Nduma fills the dark space with fish. This poem brings these two worlds together in a beautiful, gentle collision.
Posted 10/17/2010 11:43 AM
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sbraley:
What a stunning poem -- a vivid parable about plenty and lack.
Posted 10/16/2010 05:18 PM
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Virginia taliaferro:
Can't you just feel the dust, the heat, the cool under the tree-school, that mango to eat waiting beneath his classroom stool, blue earth turning.. turning..
Posted 10/15/2010 10:53 AM
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wendy morton:
this beautiful poem, and the whole world it creates does exactly what a poem should do, which is to transport us, move us.
wendy morton
Posted 10/09/2010 01:18 AM
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