Maybe…

Maybe someday you’ll teach me how to judge
Someone I have never met before,
Maybe someday you’ll teach me how to hate,
But for now I choose to love.

There was a time I never used to see you were quite different from me,
There was a time I used to love you as though you were my own blood,
But now I see it was a futile mission.

Maybe someone will peel me off the stake,
Where you left me to wither in the cold,
Maybe someone will take me in,
But now I am scared to receive.

You’ve bit my hand and I know it’ll take time to heal.
Will there ever be trust between us?
Hate crimes are below the belt,
When will we open our eyes and see we are different threads in one tapestry?

Maybe something will stir inside of you,
Something that will ooze of love even towards me,
Maybe something will warm up your feelings for me,
But for now I know they are ice.

People never choose where or to whom they are born,
But I suppose the same is not true for you.
My tribe is my crime,
My uniqueness has turned out to be my curse.

Maybe Someday I’ll learn to get to know you as someone,
Someone I’ve never met before,
Maybe someday you’ll teach me how to trust,
But for now I’m full of fear.

Frank Malaba © 2008
(Inspired by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, May 2008)