HORN OF AFRICA

Horn of Africa, trumpets of fear.

Fears of starvation, maiming, murder.

Bags of skin and bones buried near

By dry-eyed elders bereft of hope.

The very youngest are the first to go.

Time and time alone saves the rest.

Day after day, a duty must be performed—

Endlessly, day follows day—

Just to satisfy a power-hungry few.

Who protects these power-mad from revenge?

“Vengeance, sayeth the lord, is mine.”

When will vengeance be visited on them?

How much longer must we wait, Lord?

Forgive me, Lord, as I avenge my own.