The little boy of Addis

As untamed fire ignites
a world separated by
pronouns,
broken world brakin'n
streets crack'd foot crak'd in
mak'n a dwellin' there
siftin' thru ashes
to turn cold into bliss'd air
is the story of the little boy.

From the hallowness
of time little one shines
shoes smeared w/ oil
bringin' out the beauty of
journey'd time
of comin' and goin',
rhythm of life

he covers reality
with luminous smiles
rapid rhythm
of circumstance
plungin' into the flesh
making him a man
before knowin'
youthful-ness

little boy
you have lived in so
much pain and misery
amid manifested
cruelty still
faithful-ly there
humble begin'ins
is all you made
young boy

tryin' to feed your mother
and three sista's
you live to make
things betta,
they may call you bad
but you speak only
out of desire
nothing less than
the streets inspiration inspired
yiedin' to a mother's strain,

train'd by mother
to carry rags of sadness
you stroll the streets
of Addis
the price of the poetic streets
dazed with its new
poetry-less streets,
patient in what life has not
bound'd is the story of
a little boy bruden'd by
responsibility more than less,
is the story of little boy,

Ah little boy,
what will you become
in the rough'd life,
young boy
sweet child of
God

they may say there is
nothin' they can do but
the world sees
the possibility in you
don't think you are alone
young man,
in this rough'd life
the world is your own
trust life to help you
find the way
don't look down
things will look
up little boy

Just keep tryin'
little boy, believe
you will always
be someone
and you will
be free to be
your own
young boy.

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* In dedication to little ‘Tesfaye’ (which translated in English means ‘My hope’).
* This poem is in homage to Bilal's ‘Little one’ and John Legend's ‘Ghetto boy’.
* aFRo’DisaTic ExPreSsioNs
* Amira Ali © 2010 all rights reserved
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.