Morning Prayer Poem by Yehualashet Teshome

So, we are told to believe
They depend on others to survive
Doomed otherwise
We know
That is a pack of lies
If you want to help
Here is my prayer
Tell them who they are
Rich and beautiful
Strong as the lion
The Usain bolts, the Mohammad Alis
The Jesse Owens, Abebe Bikilas
The Michael Jordans
The Kenyans and Ethiopians
Those fearless runners
They won every battle
Where they were allowed to
Tell them about their wealth
The gold and the diamond
Copper and silver
Littered in their backyard
Tell them their stories
Of Axum and Adwa
Ubuntu and jazz
Soul, funk and rap
Tell them who they are
The battles
They have won and lost
Their miseries and joys
So that they are aware
Let them wake up
From the fake world
From the Maya
Created by others
For them to dwell in
In eternal sorrow
Grief and humiliation