State Of The Continent [africa] Poem by Jabulani Mzinyathi

a dry barren wind of graft
blowing across this continent

nations in turbulence
flouted constitutions galore

wave upon wave of conflict
child soldiers out of this evil womb

gluttonous megalomaniacs holding on
losers that will not gracefully leave

nations held in captivity
by ghosts of the past

arms bills sky rocketing
food allocations nose diving

nations continually wilting
in the stranglehold of ideas droughts

hails storms of self aggrandisement
continually pummel emaciated populations

power hungry minotaurs
ensconced in corridors of power

the plundering of nations wealth
stashing in foreign bank accounts

wave upon wave of protests
dissenting voices brutally crushed

refugees criss crossing the continent
everywhere treated like vermin

the bright rays of undying hope
the slumbering giant now rising