Dancing Dust
	Poems by Mollie Caird (1922-2000)
	Ivory
Home Alphabetic index of poems Thematic index of poems Biography Gallery Contact and links	Ivory, smooth word, Mother of every milky simile Conjuring legends, once heard, Of spice-road caravans travelling distantly, dimly Laden with preciousness coloured like cream, Textured and valued as pearl, Evocation of Solomon's Song and a white skinned girl Seen in a dream. Intricate art, Miraculous flower of the craftsman's making, Fashioning amulet, heart, Monkey or many-armed Vishnu; patiently flaking Madonna's meshed carcanet, folds of her robe, And, chief marvel of all, The fathomless filagree puzzle of interlocked ball ― Globe within globe. But now we know The demonry charging this white black magic, How half-starved poachers go Pursuing with gun and poisoned dart the tragic Elephant herds for profiteer's gain; And the orphaned infant strays, Trunk-sucking its own life's juices, dying in a daze Of jackalled pain. Virtuous virtu! We happily plundered our grandmothers' treasure: Look at this bauble, and this ― Imperial bric-à-brac shining with innocent pleasure. Hands made no beauty without blood spilt, No sable stole without steel, No diamonds without Soweto, the cage and the wheel, No gilt without guilt. Undated The Dancing Dust and other poems, 1983