Recipe for an African Kitchen

One you won’t find on Saturday Kitchen

Collect four bricks

from your house

destroyed by rebels.

Arrange them

in a square.

Rustle up some dry

sticks or bush

that has no thorn.

Cover with grass

that died months ago.

Find an old UN

dried milk can

or if you’re lucky,

a tomato paste tin with

a handle already fashioned

by a ghost

who died last week.

Beg a glowing ember

or a match from

the tent next door.

Use the last of your

breath to blow life

into the fire.

Pour a litre or two

of muddy cholera

soup into your tin

and wait for it

to boil.

Add some rice

the Government troops

forgot to steal.