Do not forget

Not the poverty from which you came from

Not the nights you heard your stomach growl

Not the fights inside your soul

None shall you forget

Do not forget the humble pie you had to swallow

Not the God you cried out to

Not the days you wished for a hole to hide

Not the cries that were in vain

Not the dawn that seemed to evade you

Not your tribe that was permanently singular

Not the beauty that diminished each day

Not the smile that seemed too much to prepare

Not the voice that spoke no reason

The eyes used only for weeping

The body shrunken from digesting wishing and hoping

Do not forget

We dare not forget

For if we shall

There is a reminder in someone’s eyes

A reminder not to disregard

That we are an African united

An Africa dying as one

A South Africa losing each other

A Zulu nation singing weeping songs

A woman living dying in Africa.

Lest ye forget

Do not, for the price of remembrance

Is too high.