The Whiteman Poem by Paul Mkupa Gondwe

Its funny how it all began
He came on his strange animal
which had two wheels
and shouted loudly saying
he brought the good news

Our eyes quickly became blind with
his gifts and wonders
of using tiny sticks to make fire
and his black powder that burst into flames

We opened our hearts, opened our houses
and taught him our ways
of hunting game and festivities
of worship and sacrifices,
we even showed him our shrines

So blinded we were that we
never saw him beyond his gifts and wonders
Soon our forty days were up
and then the Whiteman revealed his plans

In time, he corrupted our leaders
We rose amongst ourselves
Brother against brother, we fought for survival
all to fulfill the Whiteman's lust
of manpower to work in his plantations

Its funny how it all began actually
He came on his strange animal
which had two wheels
He said he brought the good news
but all the Whiteman did was divide