Congratulations, Zambia Poem by John Sensele

Congratulations, Zambia
On attaining fifty two years
Of uhuru; hats off dear
Motherland for sparing your children bitter tears.

Congratulations, Zambians
On maintaining unity, serenity and fraternity
Clinging together with our rich flora and amphibians
To march in unison in search of humility, prosperity and tranquility.

Congratulations, Zedians
Hallowed citizens
Engineers, teachers, nurses and comedians
Who determine to reap and sow happiness by the dozens.

Congratulations, compatriots
Hold your heads high
Walk tall, talk well of our motherland and treat griots
With dignity lest they should sigh and say goodbye.

Congratulations, sons and daughters
On promoting one Zambia, one nation
Despite temptations and predilections to jump on altars
That urge annihilation, dissension, division, dissipation and procrastination.

Congratulations, men and women of goodwill
On sparing the motherland bloodshed
Divisive tendencies and displaying the will
To rise over and above our individual homestead.

Congratulations, clergymen and clergywomen
On preaching and teaching a unifying message
To move the national agenda forward till God says amen
To terminate our national voyage.

Congratulations, politicians
On falling short of of the fragrance of ubris and arrogance
Because you're neither magicians nor statisticians
Spare the motherland the bloodshed lance in advance.