2020 Poem by Mark Heathcote

In 2020, plagues of desert locusts swarm Kenya,
Landowners count their vanishing tenure
Infestation rates are the highest in 70yrs
As they take to the air, the high sun blurs.

It's a biblical sight that's affecting-
Uganda, Somalia, India,
It's a biblical plight that's affecting-
Pakistan, Yemen, Ethiopia,

It's a biblical parasite affecting-
Eritrea, Saudi Arabia,
It's a biblical fight that's affecting-
Oman, Iran, and as I said Kenya,

When these many countries are affected
By swarms at once, it is known as a plague.
There's little left they haven't ingested.
But nymph-offspring wake after 2 weeks pupate.

Burrow to the surface in their millions,
Making moving roads, black hopping rivers;
Eating what's left of crops, thorny thickets.
And whatever is left simply withers.