To Be Human–Lives Matter
POETRY FORMAT, 21 Mar 2022
Dr Usha Roopnarain – TRANSCEND Media Service
The women, the poor, the marginalised, the ostracised,
What do they have in common?
Their rights are forsaken and forgotten.
They find persecution all too often.
Their lives matter.
Whether black, white, male or female,
Immigrant, refugee, Dalit or homeless
The world doesn’t know any better.
Their lives matter.
Will politicians condone this?
No, they just snarl and hiss!
They yearn for a life, a future.
Sadly they gaze and share their grief.
They don’t own the land, they have no relief!
With heavy hearts, they wipe their tears.
There’s no equal rights,
Just sleepless nights.
Their lives matter.
And so many wars and fights.
We are not stone, we are living.
Yet you treat us so cruel and cold.
We are All human, yet they spew out guile.
Sadly the masks hide their evil smile.
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Dr Usha Roopnarain – Former parliamentarian in the National Assembly of South Africa, social activist and passionate about human rights and gender equality.
Tags: Human Rights, Poetry
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 21 Mar 2022.
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