How many more will have to die <br />Before we identify this lie <br />And how many families must be destroyed? <br />Before we turn our gaze unto the Lord <br />Why must those infected suffer isolation? <br />And they that are affected experience discrimination <br />Have we become so inhumane? <br />Allowing the stain of HIV to drive us insane <br />I am ashamed at how we have become desensitized <br />Feeling the need to segregate and stigmatize <br />Since we are infected one by one <br />Our time of responsibility has come <br />For too long HIV has threatened the extinction of humanity <br />Consistently increasing as the cause of mortality <br />Some infections occur medically <br />While others are the result of infidelity and issues of sexuality <br />This disease is not airborne <br />Yet our mind, body and soul has been torn <br />Sometimes I wonder why we feel pain <br />And why we complain when it rains <br />Why must we endure pressure? <br />To see that life is truly a treasure <br />All is takes is one unguarded moment <br />To be condemned to a lifetime of torment <br />Nevertheless, there is life with HIV <br />You choose to live meaningfully or in misery <br />To control our anxiety <br />We need to explore our natural state of purity <br />We are all answerable <br />To those that HIV has disabled <br />Men you are implored to honour the woman’s femininity <br />As women are beseeched to respect the man’s masculinity <br />The youths demand our accountability <br />And we are all to reverence each others divinity <br />In 2009 <br />It is time <br />For us as a people to lay aside our fears <br />As we control this disease and wipe away the tears <br />It is a human right to a normal life <br />Thus this year’s theme is universal access without any strife <br />I advocate that there is a cure for the dreaded HIV <br />This is to embrace our unity and exercise morality<br /><br />Astell Collins<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/our-moral-responsibility/
