give me a blank, new canvas
of clean white and purity
give me colours that portray
and describe a journey of love
give me a story about your history
give me the words that are able
to fully articulate every journey you've been on
Grandmother, Grandfather,
give me your story
whisper in my ear the words
you fear to utter
and allow me, the storyteller,
your grandson, to tell the world of
the majesty, wonder, pain and heartbreak
you have seen and fortunately experienced
I say "fortunately" for one reason
and one reason only:
that you gained strength from pain and heartbreak,
enough strength to pass down
to my parents who were
brave enough and smart enough
to pass it down to me
As the heir to your legacy
let me tell your story,
let me inherit your throne,
let me be the one to set the entire clan free;
and in doing that,
you allow me to set everyone
who looks like me free
Because I am the voice of the new era,
the poet of a new age
the brain and sense of new generations
filled with the wisdom that you given to me.
Grandmother, Grandfather,
Wherever you are,
I hope that you are proud.
I hope you're smiling down on
the wonder that is your child.
- dedicated to my grandparents.
YOU ARE READING
Black Butterfly
Poetrythis is a book filled with original poetry by Kamogelo Modirwa. This book describes the journey I went through to find myself again after the many internal battles I had to fight and the journey that I needed to go on before I could earn my wings...
