Hotel Chimanimani Poem by Aubrey Sandile

When Idai finally came
Harare was covered in mist.
Then he messed up everything.
The rocks fell from the mountains.
The rain fell for days.
Rivers burst and oceans formed everywhere.
But there was no ark.
But Hotel Chimanimani.

We were inside the hotel.
When they were carried away into Mozambique.
We saw drowning men and animals.
Those on top of the trees, crying.
Asking where was the president?

Inside Hotel Chimanimani
We got clean water and warm food.
We were far away from their screams.
Whilst they were slaughtered like fish.

Idai shook them up and cut them into pieces.
They were not ready to die.
As they were waiting for the president.
They had to see him again.
But he was not there as they died.

We were inside hotel Chimanimani.
When the sun finally came in Harare.
They did not care, as they listened to their loud music.
Waiting for the warrior's match.

They did not care that others were drowning
Where was the president when we drowned?
Why did we not see him on the trees with us?
Where was the ark when we were being cut into pieces by sharp rocks?
Where was everyone, when we died?

Anyway it does not matter.
We are alive and we survived.
Curse on you Idai.
We saw the worst of times, but lived to tell the story.
We were inside hotel Chimanimani.