The Z Zombie-Nation Poem by Gert Strydom

(in answer to C. Louis Leipoldt)

Whiter than icy snow, like a old bone,
at rusted tanks in the Olesky-desert-sands,
heartless and colder than iron-stone
were bodies with weapons in skeleton hands.

Their eyes popped out like eyes
past terror out of sockets in a car-crash,
no feelings of empathy, rage or surprise,
did in those soulless depths gleam or flash.

Entrapped liked hexed noctambulents
they ran over bodies trying others to slay,
with blood under feet oozing purulent,
to follow a madman's orders on every day.

In terror scared to be raped again,
hidden in dark attics women held:
in fear of plundering killing soulless men,
where nothing had their acts expelled.

Needless heroes that were daily facing death
that was not stopped as others did die,
vexed wandering beings with their last breath,
as if this Russian omen would never pass by.

Only three year old children that was unaware
of danger and man's evil lust and might,
looked at them in curiosity, did speechless stare,
wondering at the heartless and soulless sight.

A ten year old child asked an old wise man,
as he watched shocked in great disbelief:
'what dreadful apparition is this evil clan,
with which Putin wants a victory to achieve? '

The old man shook his wise grey head,
spoke softly only audible to the youth:
'these are the walking and living dead:
propagandised into a Zombie state, ' he said with truth.

The television-news noted in Moscow a hall:
spellbound subjects watched the short old Tsar speak:
a man ill not only in his devious will, but evil above all:
they believed by killing innocents he did their salvation seek.

On Nazi's, salvation by decimation with garrulity,
about Russian imperialism glibly he swept them along,
that they would part of an epic Russian future be:
in which there is only place for the strong.

He wanted all nations him to follow and obey
as if destined on this earth by God above:
to have in a world broken by him the final say;
ill-will was to the world the Russian view on love.

I viewed Putin, a spineless leader in his exoskeleton,
that tried to smite each Ukrainian neighbour-man,
to me he seemed the most vile and evil charlatan,
that misleads people more devilishly than any deceiver can.

Tears for the needless suffering filled my eyes,
in view was Putin the Russian statesman: his living-dead:
exposed his acts held to the world no surprise,
as into utter decimation Russia did head.

[Poet's notes: Reference: 'The Zombie' by C. Louis Leipoldt.

I am quoting C Louis Leipoldt's great English poem here:


"The Zombie" by C. Louis Leipoldt

"His face was like a bleached bone
The desert wind un-sands,
And cold and white, like marble stone,
Were both his mummied hands."

"His eyes were clouded like the eyes
Of fish no longer fresh;
No glint of anger or surprise
Within their depths did flash."

"Heedless like a noctambulant
He passed along his way,
And little children as he went
Ran crying in from play."

"The women crossed themselves and held
Their eyes upon the ground,
Until his passing had dispelled
The fear his presence found."

"And old men, very close to death,
But still afraid to die,
Gabbled a spell beneath their breath,
Until he had passed by."

"Only the stranger, unaware
Of evil's awful might,
Looked at him with a curious stare,
And wondered at the sight, "

"And asked a native lad who ran
Some twilight tryst to keep,
"What is that dreadful-looking man
Who walks as if asleep? ""

"With startled glance the home-born youth
Spoke with averted head,
As if he feared to tell the truth,
"A Zombie, sir, " he said."

"I went into a crowded hall,
And heard an old man speak
Of ending wars, "which, after all,
Were hopeless for the weak.""

"With an old man's garrulity
he glibly drooled along.
The future, so he said, would be
Made peaceful by the strong."

"All little nations would obey
The greater ones above.
The greater ones would have their say,
And rule the world by love."

"I whispered to my neighbour man
(Who seemed to pray or weep) ,
"What is this awful charlatan
Who talks as if asleep? ""

"Tear-stained bifocals fixed my eyes;
He slowly shook his head,
And whispered back in mild surprise,
"A Statesman, sir, " he said."]
© Gert Strydom