Ghosts of the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Once I dreamt about the ghosts of whales and dolphin sand unknown people deep in the underbelly of the harbour, ,just South of Durban’s promenade. Skeletal and blurry they whirled and murmured messages of murder and cruelty Bloated bodies hauled to whaling stations Starving bodies hauled to plantations. Long ago hauntings Sometimes I dream of alive whales breaching, warning of an oceanic vomit Waves retching onto land, the sins of generations engulfing buildings that stand in silly proximity to the shore.