XENOPHOBIA (POEM)

   ' Cry, the Beloved Country' ,
   Alan  Paton  lamented  long  ago.
   That same cry reverberates,

    Even  today, louder and louder,
    As  Xenophobia,the new monster
    Raises his ugly head again
    And  stalks the  townships,
    Leaving  death and destruction,
    On his whirlwind tour, unstopped,
    While the blood of the innocent,
     Spill the streets, and the foul smell
     Of burning human flesh fill the air,
     And tears fill the eyes
     Of  those who are left with
      Traces of humanity.

     All the  cherished values,the ideals, the gains
     All  go up in smoke,
     Together  with foreigners' shops,
     The  South  African  dream
     Of  Mandela, Sizulu, Tambo and others
      Tumble like a pack of cards .
      Was it for this hell
       That they spent  years in jail,
       Was it  for this disgrace
        That  martyrs  gave their precious lives?

        Idiots  fell ancient   statues
        While SA's  own,new  statue
         Of  democracy, peace and  harmony
         Crumbles in the eyes of the world,
         As killing, looting and arson
         Take centre  stage, and  fear rules the streets.

        Hang  our  heads in shame,
        And beg for forgiveness,
        Pray  for deliverance, from the darkness
        Of  ignorance, from hatred,
         Pray to open our eyes,to  see
         Humanity, one Africa and one world .
         Cry, the Beloved  Country.