Kaizer M. Nyatsumba

Once,

when menacing clouds

hovered oppressively

over the horizon

children braved guns

and casspirs

in demand for free air

and sunshine

while leaders

ululated

and urged them to their death

pronouncing them

brave young lions.

Today,

the fearful clouds have departed

and sunshine reigns supreme

with salubrious air truly free

yet stubbornly

does a nauseating stench

hang in the air

as those to whom

the future belongs

perish

– as if of the black death of old –

and are weekly interred

while those who style themselves leaders

trawl the internet

deep into the night

and, with schadenfreude combined with hubris,

chant nonchalantly:

a virus cannot cause a syndrome.