Tell The Tales Poem by kelvin karani

Now that the seas do not allow

For us to ferry people for sale

In the malls of South America

North America and Europe

Let us sit and tell tales:



Old men and women,

Call your grandchildren

Around a log fire and tell them

Of the joy our ancestors enjoyed

In the hands of slave traders.



Now that the gun and sword

Of the imperialists army and church

Have rusted all over and function no more;

Let us sit and tell tales:



Let us narrate the epic struggles

Of the mau mau and maji maji

Of Frelimo and Soweto fighters

And many other heroic struggles

That freed us from bondage.



Now that we sing to the tall masts

That show off colored cloth,

Let us sit and tell tales:

Of our betrayal by our own people

Who like leeches are sticking to our wealth

Fervently sucking it till kingdom come.

(if ever it will!)