Malaria

Lisa my love, I can’t believe you’re dead You only had a slight headache when you went to bed Yet, when I see your lips oozing blood and twisted head With bulging eyes and distorted face I know you’re dead. Were you too proud to let me know You were not well, before you let life go? You suffered horribly in silence Too arrogant to ask for any assistance. If only you had called me I would have helped Malaria pills are for the weak, you said We are strong and healthy, and better bred We’ll use our nets to keep them out If they get in they’ll get a clout And so it was, we had our fun In Africa’s bright shining sun At Mozambique and the Comores We swam and snorkelled from their shores But the nets were broken, and though some got in We did care about the odd sting You were healthy when we came back You did not know malaria was slow to attack It was slow, but it was sure And when it came, you were at Death’s door Life moves on, my dear, and I must leave. Through its storms I’ll always grieve For the most carefree girl, that I could know That was killed in her prime by a tiny mosquito