Poem by Ndaba Sibanda
Thembi torches my soul as she talks and touches on the imperiled wailing whales, fuming fisheries, slimy oil spills, crying communities and ecosystems. She laments lamentations of the advent of hurtful heatwaves, of the melting sea ice, of busy business deals that endanger the safety of dwindling species, of extreme weather events, and a capacity for a solar and wind energy transition. Thembi touches on a touching reality, a nerve center, I have listened to her pleas, never has the activist said this: my apologies, populaces , it’s pathetic that I cannot provide you with further information and assistance as your inquiry lies beyond my jurisdiction of interest, mandate and expertise. Thembi and other climate change activists are my icons, She says: please populaces, tell them to desist from leasing our waters to oil and gas multinationals, for we have had enough of the perils associated with climate-shattering fossil fuels, it’s time to transition to 100% clean energy to protect our planet.
Sibanda is a Bulawayo-born poet, novelist and nonfiction writer who has authored twenty-eight published books of various genres and persuasions and coauthored more than 100 published books. Some of Ndaba`s works are found or forthcoming in Page & Spine, Piker Press, SCARLET LEAF REVIEW.
