A friend has just returned from Zimbabwe and Bulawayo (not a holiday). This about what he told me; a bit disjointed but I had to dodge phone-calls between lines.


Mug Abe Lincoln

The supermarket's super
Is lost.
No money can overcome
The cost.
The shelves are free
Of weight,
The warehouses are free
Of freight.

The farms
Have nothing growing;
No mooing,
No mowing.
The greenery
Has deserted
The land
Has reverted
To sand and sun -
That pair of arids,
Those Hell-made
Marrieds.

Nature has nothing
To do with this disaster;
It is man-created
By the master:
Mugabe
In his palace:
Manufacturing
Malice.

While the scared
And the privileged
Stay,
Wedged
In inertia,
The reporting
Goes on.
The double claims of distorting
Have taken over
From the real pain;
Truth's grains disappearing
Faster than the grain.

As the deaths
And inflation soar,
Mrs Mugabe takes a plane to do her weekly shop -
In Singapore.

10:29, Tue. 19/08/2008.




Poetry by Mark J. Wood
Read 667 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2008-08-19 at 14:02

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2008-11-18


Peter Humphreys The PoetBay support member heart!
Years ago I can remember what a hero Mugabe appeared when Zimbabwe at last gained independence. The old Lord Action saying that "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" still gains sway. Never forget that Joseph Dzhugashvili (Stalin) started off as a Seminarian. Powerful stuff, Mark.
2008-10-09


Phyllis J. Rhodes
In a few lines you have given more information than an entire news report. And you have given it in a personal and powerful way that demands action. Brilliant!
2008-08-20


Kathy Lockhart
oh Mark what a horrendous situation. You tell it well. My heart goes out to those poor people. It is amazing that this kind of wickedness goes on in our world in 21 century.
2008-08-20


Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
It is such a tragedy when a land that could yield so much for its people, is neglected and the greed of politicians allow the distinction between corrupt and good to mark such a place.

A well written and well thought out - nature has nothing to do with this disaster is apt and correct

Elle x
2008-08-19


Rob Graber
Good job on a difficult task--the political poem.

Shouldn't line 8 have "freight"?
2008-08-19