This week’s poem comes from Malawi, sent by Caro Bastable who has remained a faithful reader of The TES during her two years VSO. Lloyd Anafi has chosen to write about a terrible, and, for him, a very real and local problem - that of Aids orphans in Malawi’s villages. His poem is the more powerful for being controlled. He personifies Aids as a terrible visitor, and makes us understand the priorities of the orphaned child through the series of contrasts in the third stanza. The poem gives us a glimpse of a different landscape, where “peace is scattered like trees in the desert”.
NO PEACE
I had peace
before your arrival,
You brought sorrow
into my heart,
Peace was scattered
like trees in the desert.
Since your arrival
I have no support,
- no love,
- no comfort,
Unpleasant and bitter
Unwelcome visitor,
My neighbours’ remains
are now my food,
Their waste my wages,
Going to school
is now just a dream
Escorting their children
my homework,
Hard work and aching
body my only lessons,
My heart floods with anger,
No place for peace
in my heart,
so full of resentment,
I detest you Aids
for stealing my parents!
LLOYD ANAFI
Lloyd Anafi, aged 18, receives Slattern by Kate Clanchy (Chatto Windus). Submitted by Ms Caro Bastable of Mangochi Secondary School, Malawi, who receives a set of Poetry Society posters with teacher’s notes. For Poetry Society events, ring 0171 240 2133.