This Bag On Their Backs. Poem by DEDAN ONYANGO

With their bags they walk
On their backs they talk.
'Excuse me sir
I lost my book! '
On their looks they
Smile.
'But your bag is on your back
So why the buck? '

No luck in this pack,
More parrot in this park.
'Sir, I refuse to be a refuse!
I want my book please'
In this pack a void looms,
As the 'giants of snatchers roams! ”

“Young man,
Where did you keep your bug?
Or is it a bag you meant'

In this park,
The moment you are out of the sight,
Tip-toe they move
Mouse-like they breathe
Holding tight the zip they unzip.
A dictionary they remove.
A culture they found
Now they live.

This bag on their backs,
Holds their future
Which now has fractures,
Fractures made by friends so inhumane.
'Sir I saw X with my dictionary! '

This dictionary lacks the meaning of itself,
To them it is meaningless, useless but now they feel
Less.

'Call X here, I want to hear
What he has to say clear'
X on stage, 'No sir I'm accused wrongly,
It is my bag they took wrongly
Now they want me to deny
Strongly.

Teacher left confused,
This bag on their backs
Is it the one on my back?
Oh what a lack!