Teach Me Not Poem by Thabitha Marakalala

Teach me not

Teach me not of the Jews
Their gods I refuse
Teach me not of the west
Rather let me in on how
They made my forefathers to never rest
Teach me not of their religions
Paint to my soul my origins

Tell me not of their past
When my roots howls in the mist
I careless of their language
It will not end my anguish
I careless of their cultures
Since they await my death like vultures

Let me not be a burden to this earth
Please allow me not to struggle till death
Teach me of the universe, of nature
So that my soul can endlessly mature
Hide not to the face of the earth who I am
The scars on my ancestors skeletons are traces of who I am
You might not give a damn
But I need to know who I really am

Teach me not of your fears
Tell me of the sun's tears
Talk to me about the lion Biko
Tell me of the fearless Gadaffi
Let me in about the great Sobukwe
Forget not to mention Malcolm X
Tell me of mighty Luther king
Let me in about the Great Hani
Forget not the marvelous Marvin
Remember the Godly Dr sebi
Teach me about the great legends
who died for my black skin

Teach me my roots
My traditions, my customs, the spirit fruits
Enslave my mind not
allow me not to be someone am not
Utter to me the truth
Cause like the moon and the sun it can't be hidden
Teach me not what is not of me...

Tbt-M