Weep Not, Child

Image credit: above

I feel your remorse

The tears welling up in your eyes

For Mother Africa

As you suckle her dry tits

Weep not, Child

Weep not, Child

When your limbs are ripped by grenades

And your eyes are fed with the nakedness of Mother

In greed, in corruption, in dictatorship

Fed with hopelessness

Fed with misery

Fed with power-hunger

You see, Child

If Mother Africa was cruel enough

She would have flapped her tits to the sun

And said, “ I curse you all, let the sun and my tits

Bear me witness: you shall never know peace!”

If Mother Africa was impatient

She would have escaped to other distant lands

Get another husband and move on

If Mother Africa had no hope for us

The sun would burn with less passion

The wind would blow with less pomp

The wildebeest would never cross Mara

The hyena would never laugh

The birds would never chirp

But, such things, child

Mother Africa wouldn’t do

Never will:

Take counsel, then, child

Weep not, child

Wipe your tears

Laugh again

Weep not, child

You have cried for far too long

How long should a child cry?

Your sorrow you’ve poured to the night

A dark, solitary night of dejection

Many a tear you’ve shed to fill lakes

Many a whisper you’ve held back

For fear, for sheer fear

Till when, child?

Till when?

Step out in the sun, child

Feel its warmth burn your skin once again

Go to the rain, child

Feel the drizzle washing away your sorrow

Go to the hills and mountains, child

Feel the breath-taking beauty, inhale the fresh air

Go to the rivers and lakes, child

Feel the ankle-deep waters wash away your dusty feet

Smile again, laugh again, hope again

Weep not, child.

C) Salem Lorot 2011