Freedom Day it is here
notwithstanding we are
holed up by a virus

women and children still
at the mercy of their abusers
no social distancing possible

We are free
unable to congregate
to rally in celebration

many wondering why
we’d want to
given our countless
poor hungry and sick

But we are
this time round
(until the next)

We are free
as our politicians
are in Lockdown
(all masked-up too)

We are free
from their speechifying
from their electioneering
from their posturing
from their everyday

(for now they seem
to be busy elsewhere
though many relish
the photo-speech opportunities)

We are free

For now

Lockdown Day 32 out South Africa way, the country’s first free elections in 1994 in the far distance.