In The House Of Humanity Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

On my poverty-ridden face
I am requested to paint a happy face
To smile and pretend I am okay
To walk the street of life without shame
I am required to walk with the rich and famous
I am forced to share the street with bankers and sports icons
I am asked to be courageous and full of vigour
Who made these requirements?
For me to paint my face with happiness
When I have already painted it with sorrow
For me to walk on the stage of life with pride
When I have so much shame in my body
For to polish my smile
When I have no food to eat
For me to look beautiful in the streets of life
When the effects of poverty have seriously disfigured my being
For me to hold courage above everything else
When shame is fully loaded on my back
I am not asking for your charity
I am asking you to look beyond your needs
I am asking you to put on my shoes
I am asking you to be me for just one moment
I am asking you to walk inside the boundary of poverty
And inspect the living conditions in my world
To pour yourself on the roof of my life
And see the pain I have to endure on the streets of life
I am asking you to change the way you look at me
Not to see me as a burden
But to see me as a human being
I totally understand your reluctance to accept me in your house
But I want to be accepted in the house of humanity

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