The Colours of Timor Leste

I see rusted crescents from mosque tops

lying abandoned under the Timor sun in Liquica 

or is that old blood

which paints crimson the turbans of Islam?

 

Grey graffiti ashes scrawl ‘Welcome to hell’ on rising roads to Manatuto

April broken houses mimicking the blackened Palace of Cinders

where Xanana once issued such defiant welcome

to the toadying Malay seeking oil riches.

 

Betel nut beauty also stains the earth red;

carmine lips whisper of sitting fire and dying babies.

The counterpoint is cerulean waters, where boys

shoot arrows from rubber bands, piercing scarlet fish

and lavender sea shells are plucked from stony beaches.

 

I love this desolate land, green gauze trees on ochre soil

where the sun flushes the towering clouds edging Dili Faroe

with an apricot hue and

Christo Rei spreads wide his copper hands to grace all comers.