I will not speak.

Open the door
and let the wind in
it is sad
that I am not allowed
to speak
when all around me
men wallow in their spit.

In this august house
among these educated men
the principles of knowledge
are beyond my understanding
It is sad that I am
not allowed to speak.

I watch
hidden behind a cloak
of silence
as they gather unto themselves
vanity and illusions of
wisdom.
I watch
behind this voiceless
stone
as each stands at council
and orders that he speaks.

It is self defeating
to speak
for words are not heard
where the wind does not blow.

I will not speak
for that vain attempt
will be without purpose
and to add my voice
to this chorus of bays
only serves to promote
their decadent existence.

I will not speak
because to do that
will be to lend
weight to their lies.
To do that will be
justification of the
injustice of their words.

As thus
I will not speak.
But i will think.

You stand on raised ground
and with belly round
you rant on about
the forgotten continent.
You consult your papers,
it is not lost on us
that you are learnt,
and quote numbers
and figures and polygraphs.
Your bevy of followers
scuttle around like worker bees,
and the obesse queen
stands on raised ground
and speaks.

In the company of your fellows
you claim the continent
and i see all around me
heads shaking in unison.
You have studied that land
you know its problems
you can provide the answers
because you have studied.
You have the race at heart
after all
you are one of them
you have studied the land.

These are your lies.
What do you know of the land
you have your figures and numbers
I have memories and counted tears.
You study the problems on paper
the problem I have at heart
You hold council in your great halls
Around the night fire, we hold discourse
You hold your belly-round,
and i'm not allowed to speak.

I will not speak
the unworthy African
I will not speak
but I will think.