enebeli ifyprada (Nigeria)

What can you see in me
except for my skin?
I am black and proud.
Humble but i have my pride.

Am a street king.
Bare footed i walk the street.
Am well known in every zone.

You say am weak,
but listen.
In me there is no retreat.
In me there is no surrender.
I fight until i cry.

If you know my fear,
tell me.
I am never afraid.
Even when the masqurade dance
i follow closely behind.

What do you see?
Shame?
Well listen and learn.

With almost toothless mouth,
i smile.
I like playing half naked,
with my tommy like kwashiorkor.

When i fall, i get up.
Cleaning my body
with my dirty hand.

Outfitted or not,
every sunday i wear
my best cloth to church.

Without night bath
i sleep on my mat.
But when i wake up,
i find myself on a cold floor.

Like goldminers,
i diligently i seek for tyres
to roll around with my other brothers.

Like an he goat
it takes more than a stroke
of cane to make me change.

In finding trouble,
there is great humor
and i run away when i find one.

Am black as dark.
At night the only thing
you see is my white eyes.

An African Child
Am proud
That is who i am.