Home Sweet Africa

Home Sweet Africa
No people have claim to this land
Nor beast exclusivity to her bounty
She is Eve to all mankind

Politics violate her virtue
Sickness and Hunger soldiers of fortune
Race and Religion pawns of expediency

Free from Histories Blame and Guilt
Never forget your rightful place
Nor shy from your Heritage

Cower from Nothing
Cherish this land that lives within
Praise God without Reserve

Warm the soul beneath African suns
Listen to the inner whisper of Savannah winds
As Zambezi waters flow through your veins

Lightning dances across darkened skies
Thunder storms beat to your heart
Rain soothes baked earth as tears of home fall

Guard against Africa's prejudiced
Building walls of doubt in your mind
Let no kith or kin deter your return

Your soul will rejoice as life begins
In Gods own Garden
Home-Sweet-Africa

James Tobias

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Name	Comment	Date
Erna	I share your sentiments, James – and I love the title. I cannot imagine calling any other place Home	2007.03.18
Louis	I like the fact that there are no full stops or commas.  I seek pattern and flow in poetry, and your use of Capital letters to start every sentence is first class.  Some might say, "poets should use the rules of punctuation."  I say not so, where would creative writing be if writers are not creative?  Of course a writer should know the basics as a dancer and an artist and a singer should before they venture into the unknown.  I believe you are a very talented writer.  Okay, having said that, let me tell you what I see in this piece: By using the name Eve, you refer to Africa as a woman, progenitor of all that is man and you refer to Africa as the birthplace of mankind.  A wonderful image here of woman and place. As i read through the poem I found it more of a lament than a celebration.  Perhaps I am wrong.  (it wouldn't be the first time) (LOL).  You remind us that Africa is not perfect, and it does not seek to be so. I must say, I love Africa.  One gremlin = Home Sweet Africa in the first stanza and in the last stanza are different - I would place hyphens in the first to complete the pattern. Also in the title.  Well done. Points 3 - Very promising piece of writing	2007-12-19
Sasha	"Free from Histories Blame and Guilt Never forget your rightful place Nor shy from your Heritage Cower from Nothing Cherish this land that lives within Praise God without Reserve" I am not clear on what you are getting at here. This poem is disjointed, but I love the emotions it conjures up.  Try to cut it down in size, this is the place for your beautiful words, the power is required. I think this is an extended first verse that you have produced and the rest is implied.  Well done though. I like it. Points 3 - Very promising piece of writing	2008-02-17