Beloved Continent of my birth, my sweet home,
How I desire your warm protective arms,
Once again enfolded in your safe motherly bosom.
Many of your sons had left in search of pastures
Green in far and distant lands across endless seas,
Holding unto dreams sublime, both conceited and
Altruistic. Many moons it has been since the pale
Ones landed on your shores and were naively welcome
With open arms by your sons and Daughters.
But alas! the pale ones desecrated your land,
Taking your children and along with them,
Their heritage and culture, denigrating their
Consciousness and self-pride, dehumanizing,
Brutalizing and branding them. Your sons
Cried out to you Mother and their wailing
Reached your ears. You rescued them through
Your mysterious and inimitable ways. Ways
Known only to an elect few of your priests.
Suddenly the struggle began in earnest!
The struggle for equality, fairness, justice,
Against the strong arms of oppression,
Subjugation, segregation and racial domination,
Became real and intense as time receded.
Lives were lost and your sons’ blood shed.
Oh Africa, you beckoned to your Children
From the far reaches of the Diaspora, reminding
Them it was time to retrace their Steps and reclaim
Their wondrous heritage from the brinks of extinction.
Some of us were sent to reclaim the lost ones.
Mother, will you recognize your children when they return?
Our names are no longer Nubian; our ways are alien,
Our thoughts inverted, our spirits crushed.
As children of the Sun we yean for your succor
Once more and for Kemet’s glory and brilliance
Of yore, in times misty and dim. We long for
The land of the rising sun and the radiance of
The Nile yet unsurpassed. We long for thee
Beloved Mother Africa, our sweet home and pride!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: In His Own Words; The only comment I can make regarding my writings is that: "I attempt to suggest to the readers a different perspective to life that might not altogether be conventional, with the aim, hopefully, of engendering a deeper enquiry into a meaningful life in which we all live as one humanity under our creator, with higher more progressive ideals."
Whatever else you may perceive in the style of writing so far,you may feel free(as the expert) to comment on, especially regarding the poems on African heritage and culture.I am not what you would term a professional poet or writer but only do so as a form of vocation.
John Chike Onyido writes from Baldwin New York.
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