Another Day, Another Try Poem by Deluke Muwanigwa

Another day, another try

Friday the 31st,2020,
like Friday the 13th, was to be silent. No one to be heard breathing.
Little green men totting guns,
making sure the day was pure serenity,
by force of arms.

Leaves of the Mopani tree shuffling along the river bank,
whispering their fear of the impending carnage. Jacaranda trees shedding their flowers, street by street, as if to weep on behalf of the silenced masses.

The Mukuvisi River flowing from down stream ghetto suburbia upstream to posh suburbia, sending ripples of frustration from the people to the seat of power. River water whisphering, fearfully,
"We are hungry...shhhh...shhhh. We want to demonstrate...shhhh....shhhh",all the way up stream to rulers of the polity.

Harare tense. People reflecting on the horror of violence,
thinking in the past tense.
"It happened that year, remember? ".
"That year on Friday the 13th, this is Friday the 31st".
"Just reverse the dates".

Friday the 31st,2020
Like Friday the 13th
All peaceful and quiet
Like a graveyard in disquiet

Another day, another try