Not says he
a Tourism fellow aggrieved
by that emperor over there
and his country’s decision
(they’re not on the level)

A country at war with itself
we are not, he argues,
tourists have come and gone
their modalities still in place
(and Earth Day has passed)

A country at war with itself
women and children at risk
more so with our backlog
in the DNA laboratory services
(with specific reference to rape)

And its politicians and higher-ups
two-step this way and that
in their unseemly scramble
in bankrupting their own country
(economically and intellectually
dumbed down we are
with this manifesto and that policy)

And World Book Day goes by
as our schools have a break
from improving its literacy levels
(Covid or no Covid)

A country at war it is

with itself

The Tourism Business Council’s CEO says he has a bad taste in his mouth, he on afternoon SAFM radio’s Beyond the Headlines show, Friday April 23 2021.