I Weep For Africa

I weep for Africa –

And my tears water the ground

Where the tree of life first took hold

And its severed roots still spread wide

 

I weep for Africa –

And my tears salt the wounds

Where the battle for freedom first was fought

And its fallen heroes still lie scattered

 

I weep for Africa –

And my tears mark the stain

Where the blackness of slavery left its trail

And the rust of chains still bleed red

 

I weep for the invisible:

For all those who still live in darkness

Because the light of the world's media is dim

And poverty's face does not sell

 

I weep for the forgotten:

For all those who died nameless

Because the eye of the world’s memory is blind

And history only remembers the conquerors

 

I weep for the ignored:

For all those who cry out in vain

Because the ear of the world’s commerce is deaf

And free trade is freedom for the few

 

I weep for Africa –

Whose mountains are scarred by greed

And whose deltas are slick with corruption

Because power is like cancer

 

I weep for Africa -

Whose valleys are lined with graves

And whose rivers flow with blood

Because revenge feeds on itself

 

I weep for Africa –

Whose villages are skeletons of mud

And whose cities are phantoms of dust

For progress leaves many homeless

 

I weep for the mothers:

For all those who cradle sickness

Because their compassion does not pay

And life still has a price tag

 

I weep for the fathers:

For all those who sweat for food

Because the forges of industry are infernal

And labour is still just a commodity

 

I weep for the children:

For all those who grow up too soon

Because the killer virus reaps a bitter harvest

And childhood is still a luxury

 

I weep for Africa –

But not tears of pity

For this is a land of countless assets

And a people of abundant resourcefulness

 

I weep for Africa –

But not tears of despair

For this is a land of vast potential

And a people of inextinguishable hope

 

I weep for Africa –

But not tears of judgement

For this is a land with its own destiny

And a people whose sun is on the rise

 

Yet for my forgetting of her ancient ways

And my ignorance of her hidden secrets

For my deafness to her fireside stories

Africa weeps for me too

 

And for my dwelling in her shadows past

And my cutting loose her community ties

For my arrogance looking from the outside in

Africa weeps for me too

 

Yes, for turning my back on her wild spirit

And bleaching the arc of her rainbow vision

For my veil of salty tears shed for her

Africa weeps for me too

 

 

Copyright 2008

 

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