Aren't We Hurting In Silence Poem by Phillip Nine Mafunga

The military makes a mistake
Lives are lost
An apology offered: just like that

Politicians make a mistake
Livelihoods are lost
And laws are changed to legalise the mistake: just like that

Scientists make a mistake
Lives are lost n' generations n' generations negatively affected
In unreadable words, the mistake explained away: just like that

Businessmen make mistakes
The poor suffer
He bribes the system n' the issue disappears: just like that

I make far less mistakes
Suddenly the system is alive n' has teeth to bite
And to the slammers I'm chucked away to rot

Now that the scientist, businessman, politician and army are huddled in a corner laughing
Better we be very, very scared; of late, haven't they been too comfy together?
In silence, aren't we hurting inside?
18 September 2021