This is what I learnt from working for the white man:
The rainy season will come each year, and so will the dry
And bosses can be mean, they can be sad, they can be shy
And life will move on even when the targets seem high
And the team will be there, to scoff but sometimes say fie
But they can lift you high with a good laugh, or just smile.
I learnt to be humble in front of challenges, for God
Put them there to shine through the successes we got.
Then,
This is what I learnt from working for the black man:
The rainy season will come each year, and so will the dry
And bosses can be mean, they can be sad, they can be shy
And life will move on even when the targets seem high
And the team will be there, to scoff but sometimes say fie
But they can lift you high with a good laugh, or just smile.
I learnt to be humble in front of challenges, for God
Put them there to shine through the successes we got.
And,
This is what I learnt from your puzzled mind:
We’re all the same deep under, and the colour doesn’t determine
What success or failure or iniquity or sanctity you bring.
Black, white, dark, spiked, light, night, yellow, mellow,
I’m looking at you looking at me, but we’re all one big shadow
On this sphere spinning in nothingness. That colours, smells
Are just ways to make the labrador hate hounds and spaniels.
I learnt to be humble in front of challenges, for God
Put them there to shine through as we merge into one pod.
(c) Nyonglema