Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads #poetry #d’verse

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Bjorn’s prompt for d’Verse Open Link Night #392 is to write a poem about the concept of krisis. You can find the prompt here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/04/10/open-link-night-392-april-live-edition/

Picture caption: Photograph of a crying, abused woman from Deposit Photos.

The March

In a ragged crowd they push onwards

Stretching as far as the eye can see

Some hobbling on strengthless legs

Some hunched over rusting crutches

Some pushed in battered wheelchairs

Some pulled on wheeled platforms

Their cries and groans of anguish

A cacophony of desperation and despair

The strongest help the weakest

In this mottled army of the dying

Deprived of life saving antiretrovirals

The virus chatters and chitters

Soundless and invisible

To the powerful in their ivory towers

Mothers clutch doomed infants

To chests of skin and bone

Their life’s milk a certain poison

Passing on the kiss of death

For victims of abuse and rape

The trauma will never end

Health melts like candle wax

As the virus licks its chops

Once healthy men now carry

The dangerous seeds of hell

No quick and simple death awaits

Abandoned dregs of humanity

No salvation for a forsaken mass

Marching steadily towards the grave

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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67 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Krisis: Poetry at the Crossroads #poetry #d’verse”

  4. Tragic, vivid images. I know people will be dying there from not getting the HIV antivirals–and children here are dying of the measles! More tragedy to come from these insane policies and uncaring people.

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  13. An amazingly vivid poem of twin evils in every situation where the helpless and powerless are oppressed, diseases of the flesh and heart— all powerfully expressed, Robbie.

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    1. Thank you, Nolcha. This impacts the whole of Africa heavily. Our neighbouring countries are also in a quandary. I understand that the USA is hugely indebted and can’t save the whole world, but that doesn’t change the sad consequences we will all face now.

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    1. Hi Wayne, it’s nice to see you. This is about HIV / Aids. The antiretroviral programme has ended so all the people who were on ARVs to prevent the spread off the virus and a deterioration in their condition can’t get them anymore. This is my vision of what is coming. It has already started.

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  29. Amazingly powerful poetry, Robbie. Your imagery is visceral, the scene you describe so desperate and heartbreaking. This is the Trump’s doing, isn’t it? The man is the devil incarnate. I loathe him and the careless cruelty he inflicts on the world. I’m so sorry.

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    1. HI Diana, it is due to the ending of the ARV programme which was funded by the USA. I do understand that the USA is heavily indebted and can’t go on contributing to other countries on the same scale but it doesn’t change the consequences.

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          1. It’s been going on for decades. We increase the debt ceiling every year instead of requiring the wealthy to pay taxes. There are so many loopholes that many don’t pay any taxes at all.

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