Poets' Corner
My Heritage
Take me to Trinidad.Far to Bagdad;
Or old Britanica.
But remember, you;
My cow-hide shoes;
My leather apron;
My tom-toms.
Even so, my gongs.
The hut and yam barn.
Those hot akra balls;
And the soft mai-mai dumplings,
Far far away;
In native Africa.
Give me my fill.
Let me see and feel.
Lend me a hand,
And even a land
Dressed and drenched,
With skyscrapers;
In marriage keep.
Show me Hollywood,
Or the Royal Brotherhood.
And all that eyes
Have yet to see.
But don't forget;
My bows and arrows,
The cock that crows
And the amber bark for bed
For my worthy toils.
In beautiful sweet Africa.
Teach me German.
Even so, Spanish.
Show me Paris.
Back to Kadesh in bliss.
And the Golden Gate Bridge.
And the towering edifices
Of men;
But remember this;
For sure;
Don't turn me white.
Or mask me yellow.
Nor make me tithe,
Or I'll fight;
Back to back,
Front by front,
Side by side with my own.
To keep me black;
To call me black.
Akeh-Ugah Ufumaka
Bronx, New York.
