As the sun rose in the morning sky, so did she, no stranger to working the fields
Magnificent, the blood of kings flowed in her veins
Her ancestry, a diverse bloodline now the source of a rich culture
With pride she raised sons and daughters who the world gladly would have adopted had she let them go
but she was their source, and they, her reason for existence, her reason for being
Wronged by those who seek to exploit for selfish gain,
Years she suffered until she shook off the chains
But she spoke of forgiveness
Like the size of her heart knew no boundaries, no limitations to her love
"Together" she said, "together" we can succeed
She was blessed because within her were strength, hope and courage
In her humility, she did not consider herself mighty
Although she had vast riches and splendour that all could see
But even as time healed her wounds, new wounds were inflicted on her
Inflicted by the once innocent hands of her own children
What wound can be deeper than from those you love and trust the most?
What pain more painful?
Heartbroken, her spirit withered
The lands once so fruitful for her as if sensing her spirit was dying, turned against her
The sky once so bright became almost as dark as the future her neighbours predicted for her
No cure for the sickness in her spirit,
Her body once so beautiful donned the ugly coat of disease and death
Her children watched in dismay as her arms became too weak to feed them
And so they ran
North, South, East and West they ran
Towards the farthest reaches of the earth they ran
They ran, not from her, but towards life
Towards hope and the distant beckoning of a new beginning
They ran towards something most would take for granted, basic survival
Leaving their own sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters they ran
Grudgingly she let them go, but lovingly she held close those who stayed
In her weak smile, they saw a flicker of hope
Even as they died from causes natural and unnatural they held on to the flicker
So frail they feared to even speak of it
So tiny, to just whisper it seemed taboo, as if the mere whisper’s breath would blow out the flame
But now I ask on her behalf, for she is my mother (land) too
Proclaim it to all who would hear, show it to all who would see
THERE IS HOPE FOR ZIMBABWE
Even as we dig graves for people who died for lack of nothing but clean water
THERE IS HOPE FOR ZIMBABWE
Even as millions wallow in poverty, jobless in a dying economy
THERE IS HOPE FOR ZIMBABWE
Even as the cost of living escalates beyond the reach of those who society once considered wealthy
THERE IS HOPE FOR ZIMBABWE
Even as our children’s cries are drowned out by the grumbling of their tummies
THERE IS HOPE FOR ZIMBABWE
It exists in you, it exist in me, it exists even in the timidly beating heart of a baby born today
And if hope is all we have (as it seems these days), then that makes us rich beyond measure
For though we are the product of our past, we are not confined in our present but we are defined by our future
A future which our children (and their children) cannot be denied…
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