overnight trucks in convoy
big red cross on the side and the back
escorted by two junior officers
on the offchance they'd be attacked
on a private contract
roads a gauntlet
trouble none yet reported
guards will get a little commission
when we bribe the soldiers when we reach the border
now he's got medical supplies for a refugee camp
humanitarian mission
held up a week at customs
took over a month to ship from switzerland
he knows nobody will listen
even as the burials start increasing
so he keeps the frustration under wraps
he's seen that it's self-defeating
and though he joined up to make a difference
good intentions can turn out vicious
as they helplessly provide aid
to camps of disbanded militias
they've got cachets of illegal arms
hidden away in the countryside
former colonial rulers ensure
they get yet more clandestein supplies
he's seen aid workers broken down
to a shell of their former selves
til they're not so afraid of death cos
they've already seen hell
and the danger pay is good
but every cent that he gets is earnt
and he's alive but burning out
driving through scorched earth
and all in all it's worth it isn't it
even just for the little victories?
standing by as a witness
to the dark rumblings of history