Daniel was born in Spain. He studied French Literature and Economics, and then moved overseas. He now resides in Botswana with his wife, Reshma, and their daughter, little Ria. Daniel writes whenever Ria decides to go sleep.

Daniel Aristi

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Paying water bills in a drought

(Gaborone, Botswana, 29 July 2013)

sun's out like he owns the place, 40 C, all looking for shade the merciful.
here, they call money and rain the same – Pula ¹.
outside the water company branch
a line of shaved heads have always been immobile with a 1,000 years fortitude.
doors open and the queue explodes, I was behind you, seat here, he's first, Rra, Mma ².
then again, stasis.
we've crystallized in the office, by the tills; a sign on the wall warns:
re lo itsise fa re na le bothata le tsa maranyane...
'we are currently experiencing some technical problems...'
we wait for our turn with cracked lips,
and we believe we can buy Zambezi ³ water that isn't because we're rich
but even in the pipes there's already the sun, children can see light
coming from the taps.

¹ Pula is the currency of Botswana, equal to 100 thebe; in Setswana, pula also means 'rain'.
Approximately 70% of Botswana's surface is desert.
² Sir, Madam, in Setswana.
³ The Zambezi River flows through the northern border of Botswana.