Dark times
was it planned?
Malice aforethought
not sleight of hand.
People gather on the streets
a bottle’s thrown
petrol flares…
Shelves are cleared
bags are stuffed
snatch a shopping cart
fill it to the brim
seize a hi-fi
grapple with a fridge
snatch another shopping cart
come back for more!
Grab your phone
tell your friends
the shelves aren’t empty yet
and not a cop in sight…
We might pick up the pieces
we might mend fences
but it’s going to be
a long
road
back.
Written in response to Sadje‘s What do You See #91 photo prompt.
The image shows a bust of a man. A dark thick liquid is being poured on it.
Important note: this poem was written from the photo prompt. The fact that it shows a dark liquid being poured on a white figure should not be taken as a representation of the violence that has occurred here in South Africa. The victims of the violence are primarily Black African-owned small businesses whose shops have been destroyed in shopping centres and malls, and the staff who work in the big retail outlets there.
luna's on line 
Chilling.
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It is, Gretchen. Heart-breaking too.
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Wow.
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So it is and not in a good way.
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The short lines so effectively give your verse s staccato rhythm. Heartbreaking when this happens and your words painted that painful picture.
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Thanks, Punam. I was re-playing the footage we watched last week in my mind.
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You are welcome.
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An apt take for the photo, Chris! It’s going to be a long road indeed
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Thanks, Shweta. It surely is.
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Wow! It’s so moving my friend. These things, when happen, they disrupt life for a long time. Heartbreaking! Thanks for joining in my friend
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Thanks for the prompt and the platform, Sadje. It’s not often I jump on my soap box, but I could let this one go, even though my thoughts originally turned to liquid chocolate. That recipe will have to wait.
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You’re welcome Chris! ❤️
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Reblogged this on Keep it alive and commented:
Reblog;
First in this week in response to WDYS # 91;
Experience Chris’s take on this prompt!
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You’ve really caught the mindless urgency in this piece. It’s quite captivating
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Thanks so much – I’m pleased you were engaged.
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“Mindless urgency” is such an apt phrase for the impulse depicted in this poem.
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It’s such a great poem 🙂
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It well describes what we’ve seen on the TV.
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A powerful & bleak depiction of such a pressing & shameful social issue. Really engaging descriptions!
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Thanks, Tom. Such a shame it’s come to this.
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I’m so sorry to hear that your country is going through this. Violence and lawlessness benefit no one, including the so-called “winners.”
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Thanks, Liz. I’m not sure there will be any winners this time.
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It’s a bleak time for many. Your words catch the moment perfectly x
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Thanks, Gary. Bleak indeed. I feel for all those caught up in the trouble. We’re fortunate to be in the calmer Cape.
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, “You can’t help it. An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” Nina Simone
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It’s such a complex issue that I’m slightly uncomfortable for only scraping the surface of what I’ve seen on the screen. Nevertheless, I had to reflect something of what I’m feeling right now.
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Beautifully written commentary on a heartbreaking injustice.
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Thanks, Tina.
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This is a sad state of lawlessness. The helpless frustration comes across so well in your words Chris.
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Thanks so much, Radhika! I’m pleased I managed to get that over.
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tired and damn uninspired
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Is it a wonder when death and destruction surrounds?
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no there maybe seven wonders in the world. but we did not make this place or even ourselves
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Thats a really clever and nicely written take on the prompt, Well done.
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Thanks, Mason! I only wish it were fiction.
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Yeah, shameful that it happens isn’t it.
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A frightening truth! Makes me also wonder about the death and destruction media neglects to show us. A world gone mad.
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You’re right, Susan. There is so much suffering.
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You have summed up the situation very well, Chris. I concur except I don’t think there is a road back. I am in a black mood today after reading some of the stories coming out. I just don’t know how you overcome the sort of mentality that burns and loots over 50 schools. This was so orchestrated and so many people were involved.
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It’s shameful. Such a waste.
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Wow, Chris, you are so creative, what an awesome take on this prompt! 😊
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Thanks, Jeff! Not much imagination was necessary. It was right there on our TV screens.
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You’re welcome, Chris! Ah, indeed.
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The last three lines are like a drip, drip, drip. 🙏🏻 for peace and progress in South Africa.
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Here’s hoping that we can travel that long road back…
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Brilliant and dark.
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Thanks, Susan. It really is a dark hour for my adopted country, but we live in hope of better tomorrows!
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🙏
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And it frightens me. How do we make our way back.
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It is frightening. Much more so for those in the affected provinces. But I’ve lived through rioting in the UK, and worked with people who grew up in the north of Ireland during the ‘Troubles’. Nevertheless, it’s a very dark chapter – as if Covid wasn’t enough already!
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I’ve seen the news footage of the rioting in S. Africa, Chris. Could just as easily be the US or other parts of the world. It’s chilling what happens to the human brain when a sort of mass hysteria takes over. Compassion and reason fly out the window. A chilling poem. Well done.
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You’re right, Diana, it could happen in many parts of the world, especially where there’s inequality and poverty, especially inequality. South Africa is, of course, the most unequal country in the world. On the positive side, there have been many small acts of kindness from many people and organisations, which do give us some hope for the future. It’s a very complex issue and I’ve just captured a small snapshot.
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Those acts of kindness don’t make the news, but it’s good to know that they’re happening.
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Bad news make the best TV…
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A sense of foreboding put across so well, Chris. So sad.
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Thanks, Matthew. Terrible mess, but the country will pick up the pieces somehow.
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As I was reading the poem, I thought this could be some cities in the US right now. It wasn’t until I read through all the comments that I realized South Africa was having riots and schools burning 😬 Your last four lines were a perfect ending.
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It could be many places in the world, sadly. Hoping for better tomorrows… 🙂
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Wonderful poem
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Thank you, Dakshali 🙂
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You’re welcome Chris 😁
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Because of Covid 19 we had something similar against our Asian Community – people wanting an easy scape-goat. When will people learn that violence is not the solution to any disagreement.
Knowledge is power. Ignorance is defeat.
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I’ve heard that’s happened in a few places. So sad, so stupid…
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Great lines Chris. Aptly describes the mood. Have been getting news some news about the violence in SA. Its terrible, what is happening there.
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Thanks, Goutam. We’ve experienced a rough couple of weeks in some areas: burning, looting, violence, xenophobic attacks, largely confined to 2 provinces the other side of the country and apparently prompted by Jacob Zuma’s arrest. It’s much more complicated than just that, however, and poverty and inequality are significant drivers of the unrest. Fortunately, things are coming under control -for the moment at least.
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Good to hear that things are getting back to some normalcy. It is always the pent up frustration from poverty and inequality that tends to get channelized into violence. The problems that we have in India are almost similar. Very saddening.
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Yes, it is sad. 😥
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Well written, Chris.
Surely one day (soon) things will be in order and balance restored. We have to keep focused on that.
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Things are much better than they were. ‘In order’ and ‘balance restored’ are perhaps a bit of a stretch; this is Africa, after all. But there’s so much more to be grateful for and happy about. 🙂
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There’s still chance, time and hope, Chris, but any positive is a good positive! 🙂 (that sounded better in my head… 🤔)
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Sounds good to me, Tom. 🙂
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😊
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[…] Chris Hall; Dripping poison […]
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