We Know… Poem by Niki Nicholas Nkuna

We know that there’s going to be rain one day or some day
We never built any shelter or bought umbrellas
We know that it is going to be hot one day or some day
We never stored water in the refrigerator, bought cool drinks,
Water melon, built shelter or bought umbrellas
We know that there’s going to be a winter season
We never bought warm clothes, soup, tea and coffee
We know that there’s going to be a summer season
We never built shelter, bought light clothing,
Raincoats, umbrellas, cool drinks and ice cream
We know that there’s going to be floods one day or someday
We never built any barriers with sand bags and rocks
We know that there’s going to be famine one day or some day
We never stored enough food, make more or import more
We know that there’s going to be darkness every night
We never save up some more energy
To light up the dark in times of need
We know that there’s going to be a tornado one day or some day
We never fortify our buildings to withstand the day of dawn
Or set warning signs for alert when the time is nigh
We know that there’s going to be a Tsunami one day or some day
We never set warning signs
And prepare our people for evacuation before the effect
We know that there’s going to be war someday, for months or years
We never prepared our army and resource it
To the teeth for readiness, valour and endurance
We know that there’s going to be hell one day
We never pray for deliverance

N Nkuna,22 May 2013