The Uninvited Guest

Juba, South Sudan May 2020

Yen,

Depriver

of futures

of presents

Thief

of jobs

of families

Darkness

In Juba’s sunshine

In traumatized hearts

Who will light a candle

For Hope?

For solidarity?

Jen,

How about you,

Child, mother, father, soldier

Orphan, hustler, scholar, artist,

Wash your hands?

Where is the water?

Drink a lot

From a dry fountain?

No handshake!

No hugs!

Ana-istaghrabta

Physical lockdown!

Emotional lockdown!
Stomach lockdown!

Restaurants?

Chef distancing

Church?

Distance prays for healing

Boda-boda rider?

Stopped!

Woman and her tea-shop?

Closed!

Virus?

Advancing!

Oh! and cry for the taxi driver!

Humanitarians are distancing

Far from their containers and Juba camps

Post-conflict norm

Lost!

A people sentenced to “new norm”

Facemask!

Sanitizers!

Fake news!

What’s the cost?

Visitor lighting yesterday’s flames

Cradling political wars!

Economic crisis re-loaded!

Yesterday’s wounds, refreshed!

Our PPE gear, you ask?

Resilience reloaded!

Made in Juba ventilators?

Solidarity!

Uninvited guest

Advancing constantly

Target is unknown

Stay alert!