it was a terrible night

long as the Nile
cold, moonless, starless
the cocks refused to crow

there were loud voices
infecting the streets of the land

Shoot! Loot!
Burn them alive!
all the makwerekwere
job stealers, friend stealers, drug dealers

arrows flashed in the air
a stench of fear left us choking
dreams became frost
drums became dumb
the land was shaking
sleeping souls could sleep no more

laments clogged the air
fields ceased to yield
children scattered across the land
landless

mothers spread their bitenge*
at the feet of this endless night
from the riverside
their sopranos rose
voices echoed by the frightened birds
among the bending boughs
birds pleading, mothers praying

ALMIGHTY GOD
BLEND ALL THE SOLOS INTO ONE ANTHEM
MAKE AFRICA WHOLE AGAIN
AMEN!

* bitenge = African stylish cloth