Gazpa

I left my country and I left my home

Leaving my family and the land I’d known

The sense of loss was like a blow

My beloved South Africa now so long ago

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The new land seemed a lucky break

And yet my heart continues to ache

I miss the smell and the feel of the sand

Where milkwood’s and kikuyu cover the land

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The country is magnificent and full of hope

But so few seem to benefit and barely cope

Little has been learnt as the leaders gain

As divisions and greed remain the same

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Sport and kindness creates real nation feeling

Whilst crime and corruption leaves others reeling

People are warm and millions show they care

Whilst most families and farmers live in fear

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Work creation is ever so slow

With so many having no place to go

A new model is needed to uplift the nation

So that employers can stop ongoing migration

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Food shortages make me want to shout

Land and skills a plenty but riddled in doubt

With production and produce hard to beat 

Whilst so many poor people have nothing to eat

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Farmers are targeted by thugs with no shame

Reducing potential and increasing the pain

Leaders are lost with little to offer

Other than many filling their coffer

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Oh, South Africa my beloved land

I think longing of the soil in my hand

I hope for your future and all that we love

But I fear that you will need help from above

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So, wake up all good people and have a say

Enough of this madness or we will all pay

The decent humans from across the land 

Need to join together to lend a hand 

 

No room for racism or living in the past

We need a fair system that is built to last

There is enough for everyone so learn to care

Just look around and make sure you share

Those children without food and all alone 

 

2

 

Need love and kindness and a home

We are all Africa’s children so lend a hand

Then enjoy the wonder of this beautiful land

I miss the people and all that they are

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Having traded my soul for afar

With a future for our family to start

But a sadness in me and a hole in my heart

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Africa remains so real for me

My longing and heartache for  all to see

I have to go back for all to see 

To smell the land  and hear that sea 

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I miss the birds and the animals grazing 

Their shapes and sound are so amazing 

I miss my parents long gone in that land 

And all our forefathers now in the sand

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I miss my friends from all walks of life

So many have now experienced strife

The land is vibrant but like an eruption 

Amidst the wonder and all the corruption

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With multiple cultures and colours galore

The majority now rightly have so much more

But pain and uncertainty seem everywhere

As lawless people seem not to care

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So now we visit from time to time

Taking new friends to experience the pace

They love the animals, sheer beauty and wine

Whilst my heart sings to be back in this space 

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Africa remains so real for me

My longing and heartache for  all to see

I have to go back to feel alive again 

To breathe the air and relieve my pain.

 

Gazpa June 2015