TakingITGlobal - Panorama - This is Fatherland

Published on: Nov 11, 2002

Topic:

Type: Poetry

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=794

This poem was borne out of a desire to see Africans at home or in diaspora to have an undeniable and strong respect for who we are as a people. It is not an attempt to fostere racism but to celebrate our uniqueness in the Global Neighbourhood.

This is Fatherland.
Our Africa.
Beyond geographical expression,
Deeper than Colonial boundaries,
A Content in our spirits
The conclusions of our minds.
We will not bow,
Our gaze is set as a flint,
From eyes heavy with vision.
Tell it to them that are dim
We are bound by freedom
We be stronger than our chains.
When next the sun appears above our horizon
The light of life will echo as always
Africa stands tall again!
On the mountain's hunched edge and
Discreetly survey scenic beauty
Underneath the gaudy sun's silent,
Smouldering unfriendliness

You are not a color.
Black or Brown if you like
But not a color.
You are not a mass
Of throbbing emotions, stimulus
Or flesh and blood and calcium.
The outer vestment is a misty mask,
A voiceless wall.
You are a life and thoughts.
I am a spirit,
Clasped in skin, muscle and sense.
I am like the tide,
Channelled by direction,
Trim, copious options, contemporary nativity,
Voice and song and tales-
Treading softly upon fiery, ancient grounds
And creeping with wings
Like silent rain.

You are Africa.
Beloved Fatherland

« return.



by Abimbola Babatunde OKUBOTE
Published on: Nov 11, 2002
Topic:
Type: Poetry
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=794


This poem was borne out of a desire to see Africans at home or in diaspora to have an undeniable and strong respect for who we are as a people. It is not an attempt to fostere racism but to celebrate our uniqueness in the Global Neighbourhood. This is Fatherland. Our Africa. Beyond geographical expression, Deeper than Colonial boundaries, A Content in our spirits The conclusions of our minds. We will not bow, Our gaze is set as a flint, From eyes heavy with vision. Tell it to them that are dim We are bound by freedom We be stronger than our chains. When next the sun appears above our horizon The light of life will echo as always Africa stands tall again! On the mountain's hunched edge and Discreetly survey scenic beauty Underneath the gaudy sun's silent, Smouldering unfriendliness You are not a color. Black or Brown if you like But not a color. You are not a mass Of throbbing emotions, stimulus Or flesh and blood and calcium. The outer vestment is a misty mask, A voiceless wall. You are a life and thoughts. I am a spirit, Clasped in skin, muscle and sense. I am like the tide, Channelled by direction, Trim, copious options, contemporary nativity, Voice and song and tales- Treading softly upon fiery, ancient grounds And creeping with wings Like silent rain. You are Africa. Beloved Fatherland « return.