Ken Jordan Poet Light Verse

Africa

Poet: Ken Jordan
Poem: Africa
Edited by: Sparkle Jordan
written: February/1990

           Africa,
I see Africa,
            land of my people's
birth -
            I see tribes,
tribes 
            of my people
from villages
            hither and yon -
Kikuyus, 
             Swahilian's,
Yorubas, 
              Ibos, 
Zulu's 
              and so on -
sing'n in Kwa
              and Bantu -
The lingo of
             my black
roots -
           I hear flute's
sweetly whistl'n
             from the lungs
of brave black
              warriors -
play'n muzak
              near their
abode -
              I hear drums
slapp'n from 
              the hands
of the old -
               from the hands
of the young -
               I hear oceans
old Africa's ocean,
              voicing out her
soul with rhythm 
              like the tribal 
dance 
              of a proud
and beautiful 
              people -
And ships,......(sigh)
              I see ships,
strange unfamiliar 
              ships -
storm'n in from
               sea -
and guns
               yes I hear guns
shoot'n over
               the Congo,
and Kwando -
                For he is here,
the white man
                has reached 
the land
                of my ancestors
birth -
                He brought
shackles, whips,
                chains
and nets to catch
                and enslave 
the hearts of Africa 
                O'Lord, O'Lord
I see tears - a river of tears
                 roll'n down
the aisles of my past -
                and the children
of Africa,
                will never be the same -
He handcuffed us
                to the belly of the ship,
and brought us to America,
                the land they call
the free -
                 We as black people
are not free -
                 I see Africa
the mother of my
                 people's birth -

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