DIDACTIC: "THE VIRUS THEY NEVER CONFESSED" BY IKECHUKWU FRANK

When the World Became a Prisoner of Fear

The world awoke to an invisible foe,

While streets stood silent and fear began to grow;

Mothers wept softly, the hospitals cried,

And millions asked, “Who brought this storm inside?”

Behind closed doors, where the powerful meet,

Were secrets buried beneath polished feet?

Was it nature’s fury, a failure of care,

Or truths concealed that nobody dared to share?

The poor lost their wages, the rich bought more land,

While fear became currency in a powerful hand;

Some fought for survival, some counted their gain,

And the world learnt the bitter mathematics of pain.

The scientist searched, while the journalist wrote,

The whistle-blower trembled with truth in her throat;

Files disappeared, and accusations flew,

But rumours are not evidence, however they sound true.

Who profits from panic when the markets collapse?

Who hides behind contracts and bureaucratic maps?

Who answers the questions when the headlines depart?

And who counts the dead with a conscience in their heart?

But truth is not gossip, nor suspicion a proof,

A question needs evidence beneath its own roof;

For justice without facts is a dangerous flame,

That can burn the innocent while protecting the guilty name.

Africa, arise! Let preparedness begin,

Build stronger hospitals; let transparency win;

Protect every whistle-blower, let science speak free,

And make public health a shared responsibility.

If tomorrow brings darkness, let truth be our light,

Let courage confront what corruption keeps out of sight;

For the dead cannot speak, but their memory remains—

A world without accountability will repeat its pains.

© IKECHUKWU FRANK

-Nigeria 

“The Virus They Never Confessed” is a socio-political jeremiad that reflects on the global suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and questions the accountability of powerful individuals and institutions during the crisis. The poem portrays a world overwhelmed by fear, death, economic hardship, and uncertainty while raising questions about the origins of the pandemic, institutional secrecy, and the possibility of exploitation by influential groups. It highlights the contrast between the struggles of the poor and the advantages enjoyed by the wealthy, suggesting that some individuals may benefit from public suffering. However, the poet cautions against treating rumours and suspicions as established facts, emphasising the importance of evidence in the pursuit of justice. The poem further advocates scientific freedom, transparency, protection for whistle-blowers, and stronger healthcare systems, particularly in Africa. Ultimately, it calls for responsible leadership and public accountability to prevent future crises and ensure that the lives lost during the pandemic are not forgotten.