Living In The Minefield Poem by Francis Kokutse

I did not close my eyes when it happened,
my eyes were wide opened all the time.
It was a friend that l had gone to for help
but it turned out that times have changed.
I stepped on the soil of a brother and
had my feet blown off from the angry looks he gave me.

These days knows not what family bonds are;
These are not times to believe what you hear
because everyone is engaged in a battle
and it is sad that the very grounds we
all seem to tread have become minefields.

It is only those who have nerves to keep
going and never caring what hurt they get
who return home with a prize
but, these all have blood stains from those they hurt.

I have heard of those who stabbed from the back
and listened to tales of those who licked from places they
should not have touched with their fingers.

It is the end that justifies the means they all told me
but l have refused to join these band of soldiers
who have no known enemy but contine to fight on
the ultimate prize is who gets the best of everything.