(Thanks to the Guardian online news pages)
At Yellowknife, diamonds presented to William and Kate,
On the Internet, I view World Stories side by side,
In East Africa they wait for rain…and still wait…
Sixty years of poor pasture, poor harvest, the land’s in a state -
Peoples displaced, thousands of animals died.
At Yellowknife, diamonds presented to William and Kate.
Six hundred and ninety-two stones locally mined, so ornate –
cuff-links for the groom, a brooch for the bride.
In East Africa they wait for rain…and still wait…
Thirty per cent population, no balanced meal for their plate,
the right to eat, to water, to life denied.
At Yellowknife, diamonds presented to William and Kate –
- gifts worked into Polar Bear shapes in order to state
permanence of relations between peoples, with pride.
In East Africa they wait for rain…and still wait;
with a few hundred million dollars the worst could abate.
The price of the gift, the company would not confide
at Yellowknife, diamonds presented to William and Kate.
In East Africa they wait for rain…and still wait…