History is the mirror through which we see tomorrow.
She is the apartheid portrait and silhouette of liberty in Port Elizabeth.
In Cairo, the pyramids would show you her hidden hollows.
Through the Niger River, she led Frederik Lugard to Lagos.
She is the archeologist's land-mark of Blood Diamonds.
You could ask the Congo’s, Angolans, Liberians, and the Ivorians,
They would tell you that Free Town was never a free town.
Yes! Freedom is never free at all.
We were rivers of blood and forests of bones.
We were snapping twigs and broken glasses.
We were these and more, in search of a big Tomorrow.
Hurray now, the Tomorrow is here
Maybe not so ‘big’ (correct me if I’m wrong).
'Children are the leaders of tomorrow',
a songbook we were forced to buy at school many years ago,
My father had no money, ergo, I was forced to borrow.
It was the only way I could learn and sing along with my peers, damning my ego.
Alas, the leaders of today are still yesterday-leaders’ alter-ego
Are people not born because others should be gone?
How then would the beautiful ones come
when the ugly ones are still very much in form?
When exactly shall we see this big Tomorrow?
Categories:
frederik, africa, allusion, anger, corruption,
Form: Epic
pick up the sword and feel the weight that crushed King George
and all his sins / cry out with rage kept deep inside / did cast my soul across
the seas / fair Hadley, dark and hidden there / did spy upon the distant hill,
King Phillip's writhing , coiled snakes descend upon the helpless church / when suddenly
I could not stop, my flashing swords and bloodied thrust did quench my burning,
vengeful heart / a ghost arose, an "Angel" they cried, forever told in history / set free
the demons calling him to free this place where peace did see / and disappear once more
from sight / my blood, now yours, eternity...
"Angel Of Hadley" by Frederik A. Chapman (circa 1850) can be viewed in Forbe's Library
forbeslibrary.org/special/Angel...... or google "Angel Of Hadley"
Categories:
frederik, family
Form: Ekphrasis