What can I write?
What can I jot down?
How can I place it on a paper?
How can I describe?
How can I make a pen to bubble?
How can I?
When I turn and look around
I am surrounded by beauty
Engulfed by the adorable smell
Shielded by the glorious mountains
Africa my origin
Africa my foundation
Africa my first step
Africa my roots
My life is rooted
In your well nourished soil
My culture is colorfully represented
My pride is buried in you caves
The soil I trample on
Is rich than the heavens
It contains treasures unmatched
Commodities and wealth undisclosed
The lakes I sail on
Stores the waters of life
Provides for the Camel of Africa
It swallows the sins of its nation
You are the stronghold
The mother to the orphans
The lighthouse to the sailor
The fortress to the soldier
The pillar to a building
Botse bjo makatshago
Ditshaba ka bo phara
O mo swana a nnoshi
Bogato bja pele ke bja gago
Through the voice of the child
Nations understand your cry
They surround you shivering and shuddering
Like the lone reed of limpopo
You are a lion in the valley
Roaring once twice is danger
Like a person with swine flu
Sniff once the world is slaughtered
The power abides in you
But still you are blind
You are a god to the nations
But you still ignorant
Africa, why are they interested?
Why are they amused?
Why so much attention?
Why this obnoxious curiosity?
They were oblivious of you
Regarded you as a landfill
The piece of land not attractive
The game reserve for hunting
The disapproval sight ever been
Today continents are looking
At the splendor you have gained
Glamour you displays
The original beauty you acquired
Africa, what have happen?
Tell me who bewitched you
Who put the spell on you?
Tell me so that I can help
They blind folded you
Let you through deep-blackened valley
Left you with sorrow
That no man can move
My Africa wake up
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Great piece of work. Thanks for sharing it with us. E.K.L.