If Words Could Kill Poem by Gert Strydom

If words could kill,
then kill they will
without impunity
reaching out
and sucking in
and circle out.

Still a leader
prohibited by law
rages his hatred out
in a neighbouring country
and watch his words spread
by the media of his own land.

Now, a great man lies dead
who could have taken
his country to civil war,
but chose peace
and the Lord instead

chopped to pieces
with a Panga-blade
slaughtered without mercy
or conscience.

Where do we draw the line
and when and where
does the killings stop?

What will this government do
when civil war erupts
and military trained white men
take up the gun?