shock and awe

"The US has been in Iraq for a while now and every time I see a clip on tv about an American soldier or Iraqi people dying I do not react and it does not disturb me in the least. And I fear that this is the usual reaction of most people to reports about Zimbabwe and the people dying there."

- Lister Chapeta
in an email about her homeland, Zimbabwe
to former teacher and Cave Canem poet, Monique Adelle Callahan

independence

day ~ a movie;
a place used
by candidates
to underline
their message;
the beer;
& bbq. the children

dying.

ours
explode
rockets; laughing
dance sparklers;
throw snaps;
(gunshot sounds flung from the tips of their fingers)
scorch pavement black
thrilled to be outside
after street lamps

turn on.

MORE:

* about Zimbabwe in the Herald Tribune, US Pushes For UN Sanctions On Zimbabwe.

* the flickr page which inspired the poem which was sent in the email. Warning: not for the faint of heart or the easily ill. But - it's what the news doesn't want us to see. Zimbabwe Photostream and the Children Photostream

*