Unbound by the Box

        

Stuck in a box,

Barely enough oxygen to sustain my weak lungs.
I can hardly see the walls around me,
So I scratch and bang, begging for a drop of water,
Gasping for air.

Outside, the sounds of success and affluence swell;
I hear the joys of full bellies and quenched throats roar.
The aroma of wild catch beams through the atmosphere—
Why am I in here?

My ribs imprint their form on my skin;
Saliva in my mouth dries like the parched Kalahari.
My ears can't bear this head-splitting whisper of silence;
My eyes catch fire as they bleed out my pain.
Why am I in here?

Stuck in this box,
My heart pounds as the stench of sorrow creeps in
Through the rough-hewn corners.
I feel the icy wind blow, inhospitable and cruel;
I gag at the thought of my barren future.

I growl like a lion,
Emancipating my soul from this confining fate.
My eardrums suffer from the sinister laugh of my greatest enemy;
I toss and turn, seeking a way to face my end.
Why am I in here?

Like a slithering slider, I slumber with weary eyes.
Fatigue weighs on me, leaving me vulnerable,
But even so,
My earth-toned skin mocks their sinister kingship.
Why am I in here?

Stuck in this box,
Just as the lion teaches its cubs to silently hunt,
So does Mother Africa cradle me for the hard landings.
Just as the elephant instructs its calf to ward off danger with its tusks,
So does she teach me to whisk away sorrows through prayer.
Just as the giraffe trains its calf to sharpen its kick,
So does she hone my strength for incredible flexibility.

Why am I in here?
I feel despondent, yet I look on
To the speed of an ostrich, faster than death itself,
The stomach of a vulture, stronger than affliction,
The satiation of a crocodile, hunger does not touch it,
The nimbleness of a springbok—now you see it, now you don’t,
The wisdom of the ages, the keen perception of a shark,
Smelling fear from miles away,
The hidden strength of a penguin—prayer is my fortress.

So I may be stuck in this box,
Wondering, why am I here?
Suddenly, I recall:
I am Africa.
I am full of strength, rhythm, and valor.
I am Africa.
I illuminate the earth’s beauty, fair and just.
I am Africa!
I am a mountainous giant that conquers and prevails.
I am Africa...
I stand tall, stretching across the land—
This box has become my shield and my strength.

Why am I here when I could be soaring?

I am Africa!             

MitneyMitch