A Captain of Industry To His Snoring Spouse, Upon Hearing Of The First Bird Flu Cases In Nigeria

for Isabel Cara Martin

You listening or half asleep? Fast asleep? Africa is free

To die in astonishment, up, down, across the continent,

since the drugs won’t come in time, and when they make port

shall surely get diluted, polluted, or looted by new ‘inheritors.’

Those to be cured will find Death’s maw opening for them

in every hut. May Death gobble them up without much pain.

Wake up! Kicking this globe about while night ticks down

how can I consume--alone!-- today’s tidbits of tragedy?

How can I disport in the forecast of the future damned?