Sing to me a sad song
When we forget the conscience of memory in horrid hurry.
Make music to me, please
when amnesia blots out our humanity.
Let it rise
and leap above forgetfulness.
Let us not die, my brothers
and wallow in poor memory
That posterity may not pound us with
great whips like furious Fulani herdsmen
handling cruel cow canes.
Sing to me,
the tale of Lucky Dube, the maestro we mourn.
Hum the dirge of the Batman tale in Colorado
Croon songs of Malala,
The Taliban’s many crimes against womanity.
Chant the dirge of Awonoor,
Victim of the man’s inhumanity.
Drone the loud young cries in Vietnam and Hiroshima,
Of youth sniffed out senselessly.
Cry out the pains of Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria
Yes, yell out our collective pains
For then shall the world listen and learn
in every four pretty corners of the earth
that posterity holds long, great whips to lash out against inhumanity!
