A Blues Sonnet for Jan

Event: Anglo-Boer War 1899–1902—Measles epidemic in the concentration camps. In the voice of: Sannie Botha (a survivor). Jan’s cough kept me awake all through the night. The children are all coughing in the night; the fevers gave us all a mighty fright. The red, now itchy, spots on body parts; “Oh! Son Jan, don’t you scratch the itchy parts, as scabs and scars will follow just like warts.” If only I had negosiekist* at hand. The muthi† in friend's kist – her helping hand – but mothers dug graves with bare hands in sand. Now I might stop to shake my balled fist. The Tommies‡ shake their riffles in tight fists; they're no older than Jan when they enlisted. The torment was breaking all of our hearts and the fragile peace brokered, never lasts.