Drums Tell the Story
The drums could be heard far away
across the savannah they travelled
spreading, telling the awful news
of the awful deaths and suffering
One village drums talking to another
as much as fifty or so miles away
dreadful news they told the listeners
everywhere lie the dead animals
Of the worst drought in living memory
people dying like flies with thirst
animals stuck in mud trying to reach
the last remaining precious drops
The last few drops of brackenish water
bloated carcass's everywhere you look
hopeless in people's eyes watching
when will the monsoon rains arrive?
The drums beat ever louder and faster
but no help can they bring to sufferers
only water can do that, can rejuvenate
and bring some hope to this parched land
Bring back life, and fresh greenery for all
now the drum tone changes becomes insistent
rain two hundred miles away will it reach?
often it stops, but not this time
Soon the rivers burst their banks flooding
in what seems an instance all springs back
that life saving water has rejuvenated all
bringing fresh hope and life returns abundantly
there are two things that Africa needs to survive rain and sun.
The failure of either causes such suffering to both man and beast
the other danger is floods they can wash whole roads away sometimes
leaving a crater that a bus would not quite fill so then the roads remain
impassable until the dry season which could be 4-5 months away
Just think you turn a tap and hey presto water. Animals and people
daily have to walk 20-50 miles daily just to drink
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