How long, Oh Lord?

How Long Oh Lord Of love? “What shall we do with his two wives?” His nephew asked of me. “They can’t go home to South Sudan, That simply cannot be. Their homes were burned down to the ground The area decimated. Their crops destroyed, their village razed Their graveyards desecrated. But if his children are not schooled What will their future hold? Without their father who will be The one to form their mould?” The husband, father, brother, son Was wounded in the chest, The bullet lodged just inches from The heart within his breast. But worrying to all around Was his paralysis What was the cause he could not feel? What did the doctors miss? The surgeons would not operate… They would not take the risk. But why he died they could not say - His passing far too brisk. The family members rallied round His children and his wives. They promised to take care of them To give what money buys. But without home and without land They drift as ships at sea. They have no permanence at all No place where they can be A part of all that went before To generations back Uprooted p’rhaps indefinitely To live between the cracks. Power hungry oligarchs Refuse to broker peace While lives are shattered, broken, torn Where tear flow will not cease. Where is the world community? Where is their hue and cry? How can we sit and wait and wait All idly standing by. It only takes the silent just To let the wicked thrive… We who know better need to speak If these are to survive. But voices lifted up from earth Are heard by One above Their blood cries out, their tears are seen How long O Lord of love? How many graves will still be dug How many widows mourn? How many children live their lives As orphans so forlorn? How many people still displaced How many homes destroyed? Rise up, Defender of the weak! Your goodly plans deploy. Johann W van der Bijl © 2015-03-08