This small town sang its history with water-
having etched small nooks and channels into the walls;
so when rain fell in the plaza and the quarter,
you could hear the songs and calls.
A drip would come and flick a switch.
More drops would fall and turn some cogs.
The whole town would bellow and twitch.
The church squawked like a goose. The turrets bark like dogs.
You should go during the months of rain,
to this small town with words inscribed in mortar,
with buildings that sing that eerie refrain.
A long history written with water.
Charl Landsberg is a South African poet, musician, artist, and writer. Their work often focuses on social issues: feminism, racial justice, LGBTQIA+ issues, etc, while often also focusing on fantasy, science fiction, and often some things that are just silly or funny.