Scream: A Brief History Of Oppression Chapter 09 &10 Poem by Martin Lochner

*9*

south africa decides the fate of the nation
through democracy leadership goes
to former freedom fighters and power
belongs to the poverty stricken population.

*10*

father leaves home early
not returning the evening
mother fears the worst
father talking the previous evening
of death
stroking the border scars on his body
crying “why did we die in the war! ”

mother sends me to the military graveyard
in maitland walking the numerous rows of white crosses
tombs revealing the loss of 17 years old boys
fighting the communist insurgents on the borders
of namibia and angola

finding him asleep on my oldest brothers
grave i wake him, tell him to come home.
struggling with him i never saw him sobbing before
grieving the death of his child who fought
for country and cause
cursing himself saying that he pushed his boy

to protect the homeland
from the nation’s enemy
cutting his face with the pins
of the pro patria medal and crux honorius
he received for bravery
he cries
“for nothing my child, nothing! ”