Human Rights, a poem by Alhaji Barrie

Police brutality, police killing, discrimination and corruption

gone are the days when such days are violated

we should celebrate all rights of humans.

Cheeks are still fresh with tears

the ground is still stained with the victims’ blood

the soil and green are not level yet

the night still carry’s memories of the cries of the deceased

morning has not ceased for families who never

got to say goodbye to their loved ones.

how ordination we are to stand faced our chest

and sing the national anthem a perfect prayer for peace,

protection, unity, freedom and justice

yet we have been so impropriety and

become agents of division and discrimination.

I will like to see a time when we will truly love one another

For we have to change the colour of our flag by our shameless actions

For years we have had a battle against violence but yet we are still in it.

The change lies in each one of us

Not in an entity or individual

It begins with mending our heart

Through freeing ourselves from the broken past.

We cannot respect our brothers if we do not practice stability within ourselves

We cannot value our sisters’ lives if we act like ours is not worth

We cannot pure empty cups and expect floatation

One day we will leave a free rainbow nation

And erase the actions of shame from our flag

There is hope for change but it starts within you and, I.

This poem was written by: Alhaji Barrie