Equity

I hear your hoe strike the late afternoon

through my book,

past the heat of an African day

the birds are moving, talking again

and I can't resist: I pick up that ancient tool

and bend to the curve of the earth; The soil turns fresh. Listen ...

my friend, my neighbor, my African brother,

there's an echo to your hoeing. We passed through Jalingo

at the same time, They gave you, your two wives, seven children,

a house

with two rooms

and a bit of land. They gave me six rooms

and land enough

for three bishopbirds

to raise their families. Then you asked for my land

to grow your crops

next to my garden And I said: Yes. It's not weeds that have pulled us out tonight But the equity of an African evening,

its cool joy.

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Equity
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1987/0623/uequity.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us