When Gold Forgot Its Name Poem by Martins Akhoeneto

The lamp of learning burned through countless nights,
Yet false-made stars now steal the morning's lights.
We climbed through books with faith as our reward,
While crooked roads have crowned the faithless lord.

The market bows where tainted fortunes reign,
And honest labour harvests little gain.
A child buys mansions, clothed in borrowed pride;
The crowd applauds, and conscience steps aside.

What worth are lectures, tests, and grades we won,
If truth must kneel before a lawless sun?
Must ink surrender to the glittering lie,
While virtue starves beneath a brazen sky?

Yet stolen rivers cannot reach the sea;
Time keeps the final ledger faithfully.