I sat
pen tapping against my lower lip
in annoyance
with his tardiness
We waited for the alleged
fifteen-minute rule that we knew
didn't really exist
and we weren't the type of students
who'd leave
no matter the time
His voice boomed
with his arrival
and we adjusted in our seats
expecting an apology
for our inconvenience
His rich African voice
filled the room like coffee
wetting our feet
with realities that
privileged white college students fear
I pressed the toe
of my high-healed sandal into the
rung on the chair in front of me
letting it disappear beneath the hem
of my long peasant skirt
We were here to learn about World Literature
and I would often argue
that dead white men do not constitute "Worldliness"
but this was not the time
When he spoke
he trembled
and I felt tears
eagerly work their way
to my eyelids
as he told us that men
men he had gone to college with
educated and literate men
men who studied and read
had been pulled into the street
and executed
for speaking out
against horrors like these
that we privileged white private college students
see as stories from a long past time
and this oak tree of a man
crumbled
weeping
Author notes
This is a semi-true story of something that happened in a class of mine. It was a while ago, so some creative liberties were taken, but I did have a professor whose friends were executed during the Civil War in Sierra Leone. Seeing what's going on in present day Africa makes me think about that moment... This is the first time I've written about this.
Written December 19th, 2005
A contest entry
- Voice for the Voiceless... Zimbabwe (a contest) by Annastacia.
500 points, ended January 2, 2006, 4 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
-
Congratulations on your win! It is lovely!
-
Thank you for entering this piece into this contest to help bring awareness to people. This is a subject near to my heart. I will be judging the contest tomorrow, but I would like to ask permission to share this poem with an online publication called the Zimbabwe Situation. They would like to print it in the newsletter with your copyright of course.
Anna -
It reads to me like a short prose. I short well written prose with a powerful messege behind it's words. I liked it a lot,it was intresting to read, and you had my attention from the get go until the end. It's a sad memory to have, but it's one, that I think, should be remembered.
-
I loved the way this was written. It felt like I was being drawn into your memory and being able to seeing through your minds eye. Just wonderful.
Anna -
omg this is so sad, emotional write though. Its terrible to hear about the tragedies around the world,past and present. Nice write.
-
i feel the pain
This is vary good,vary ture. i am working on a plan to buy meny acres land in africa, and i want 2 invite as meny of the poeple as i can. there will be houseing, clean warter, filds to gorw food and safety for the poeple. i want to help and i shall.
Adding your comment:
1 - 6 of 6
4 old applause
