Was it not yesterday
That you shared water
With beast and vermin?

Was it not yesterday
That you walked barefoot
With the baboons,
Digging up roots for sustenance?
Hunted by enemy soldier
By night
And vulture
By day?

Was it not yesterday
We sacrificed
The honour
Of our daughters
To comfort you
When your spirits
Sagged?

Was it not yesterday
We gave you a hero’s welcome
When you marched
Into Zimbabwe?

Now
You wear boots . . .
You break the ribs
Of our daughters
Because they have
Something to say
Because they go to University
And give you comfort no more?
You defile the honour
Of grandmother, mother and daughter
In front of their husbands and children
Because they are wise;
Because of their silent rebuke
For your desecration of
The Sanctity of life?

Was your vision blinded?
Were those years
Of personal sacrifice
All for naught

Oh ye
Of little vision
Ye with diamond eyes
And diminished humanity
Listen
To the mournful song
Of Zimbabwe;
Count
The number
Of destitute children
On the streets of plenty,
And hear
The silent groans
Of old age
Quietly starving
To death;
Starving from the lack of food;
Starving from hunger for justice.

Oh brother little of mine
Was it not for these
That you suffered?