FROM AN AFRICAN WHOSE CHILDHOOD WEEPS

From the soothing balm of shea

To the ginger, pepper suppository

Through to hunger which was queer

And quenched with thick breakfast of ‘coco’

With plenty sunshine, my happiness was sealed

By the creator

 

I, like an angel, knew no colour

I knew no difference

I knew humans, black, white, yellow and whatever

And I would’ve never hesitated to play Ubuntu

With either as I saw all human parts play same functions

But for the tutelage of grown livers

 

I was born a proud African

But each tutoring severed a part of my pride

Replacing it with disdain

I know monkeys live in the forest

But I was thrown bananas and told monkeys are my kin

I know not whether my smooth skin is always seen with too much hair

 

I was told of the limitedness of my capabilities

The servantude and beggitude I was made for by beings I could swear

Had the complexion of pigs, I was clothed with shame as they used me for pennies

Now I know what I missed as an African Child

Please give the others freedom, give them books

Give them knowledge and soothe their rage

 

Give them wings, give them the skies

Leave the trees and help them fly

Up, up, up to the sky and beyond

Curb their insecurities and make them the beings they are

I lost my chance as an African child

And I grieve

 

 

Two wrongs can never make a right

Please let the new generation be free

Mama, Papa, brothers and sisters

Leave the chains which chain your minds

As many of the ‘humans’ have set rolling balls of freedom

For if our minds become free, we will be free indeed.

Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia © 2014