Am I My Brother’s Keeper? Poem by Gert Strydom

“Am I my brother’s keeper? ”
Cain answered the omnipotent Lord God
as if a brotherly relationship did not go much deeper
and this answer seems odd

as if he did not have his brother’s blood on his hands
as if his brother had travelled away to distant lands

and I wonder where our own responsibility do begin
or do we choose to live a life of sin
to be political correct
and just to fit in,

when our country is turned into chaos
and people try to survive at any cost

while daily we do meet a sister or brother
from another father and mother,
see our own people begging on the street
and we have no concern for each other,

drive the newest most expensive luxury cars
gather with others in fortress houses and bars

while the new kind of racism know as affirmative action
destroys lives, do reserve jobs by the colour of skin
and we do build our lives around ourselves as a reaction
while we do believe that we can survive and win

and somewhere the unlucky ones are retrenched, loose their lives
cars, property and wives,

and all kind of hope suddenly to them is gone
while for all others life goes on
as if no corruption, crime and suppression does occur
and people’s hearts become rock solid like stone

while the Redistribution and development programs
is catching speed and so does greed,
(and the revenge of the dark people) in lives are like epigrams
while some people are in real need

and kill themselves while they are unwilling to beg for salvation
while others beg at street corners as if it’s their real occupation
and others like Abraham trust daily on God to provide,
to be a friend, a shelter and a true guide.