Africa

I'd like to think of her as Africa.I'd like to describe her footsteps like earthquakes.The kind of ground trembling you would associate with war.When you look into her eyes you can see years of past genocide.A million dead bodies from the furthest point in the cape all the way to darkest place in Egypt -And in the distance you can still see the sunset slowly dying -Brilliant colours kissing the horizon flirting with the idea that they will be back againBecause you see when you look into her eyes you see everything that we have lost...But you keep lookingBecause all her gaze will make you feel is hopeA hope you can hold on to a hope that you canTouch.Taste.Smell.AndKiss...In her voice you could hear the ferocity of bulletsShe spoke with a passion that felt like all the civil wars rolled into one and pride rolled off her tongue like the energy that propelled clenched black fists into the air that were trying to voice the reasons they should be free...Her skin smelt like freedomIt smelt like independence and the many years of colonizationI could feel the sweat of my forefathers and mothers in her tears and I could feel the hard work of labour in her trembling handsHer fatigue tasted like slavery...A weight she bore when unknown entities snatched her sons away from her loving embrace without her goodbyes and never mind consentFor the past 400 hundred years she's been wondering if they will ever come backHer bosom is the struggle.When I place my ear to her chest to hear her heartbeat –I am gifted with every song that spoke about our need to be recognized as human...The blemishes on herHandsFeetAndStomachPainting images of kids with bloated bellies and twigs for arms and legs.Her hair –In its natural form sprouting out of her skull wild and untamed screamed this is meA beauty you couldn't ignore despite the many times you press mute.And her lips were love.Her lips were pain.Her lips tainted flowers ruined by continuous violenceFuelled by male privilegeSpurred on by their alcoholic indulgenceAnd yet she still spoke truth.I love her for the fact that she still blossoms in the dark.She is beautiful...And I'd like to think of her as Africa.