Promise Kept

I When Sidney died I could have died I could have cried But fought to save my flat African 'woonstel,' or 'apartment' Under auction threat By PRETOR, for "levies," Or security gate fees Yet managed when I was overseas By HUURKOR: getting off scott-free? II I promised not to write (O, not for anger or spite) I had paid due tribute To F.W. de Klerk, Desmond Tutu South African Nobel Laureates Not when Sidney said farewell I was tasting an iota of hell But I needed to say something Though I stopped identifying As black ... when apartheid fell Poitier still clings to part of me As to all who celebrate humanity Unexpected racial pride and strides Knocks out more insidious apartheid