cancer in paradise (ambiguous Africa)

the cancer in paradise (Ambiguous Africa)

Africa you have given me my childhood years,
in you i know my friendships and my fears,
i have shed many tears on you,
for you,
and against you

in you i have energetically bounced up and down,
in you i have played and learned and loved...
like a mother you have fed us,
you harnessed us,
you have kept us free from droning earthquakes and wild wirling winds,

but you could not stop the drought,
you couldn not stop the childs of your womb from fearlessly killing one another,
from slaughtering their neigbours with machette's and
from raping your daughters and your mothers and orphaning your sons.
have you done this with the thought that our tears might one day cure your draughts?
that our cries might one day fill your skies and clear the heavens for you to see?

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poem by Bernard Thorpe
Added by Poetry Lover
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