Once they were young
These slow, slurred, grey-haired beings
An advance army that came before us
To tame the beast that reigned supreme
To part these raging waters
To cut this much trundled path
To prepare this world for us.
Once they were young
Think what they did!
Think what we owe them!
They found a country for you
The unity you take for granted
They found it for you
The road you drive recklessly on
They built it for you.
When overwhelmed by your spendthrift tendencies
You ‘Skothane’ thing!
Think who dug up the money!
Once they were young
They fought an enemy for you
They fought many a debilitating disease for you
They gave you the blueprint for your swag
What are your inventions today?
Theirs was the computer
Theirs was the transistor radio
Theirs was the television
Theirs was the combustion engine
Theirs was the anaesthetic
Theirs was sliced bread!
Theirs was the calculator
You, the youth that consumes
What are your inventions today?
The bravado of the young
Devoid of tact and wisdom
Glib and blasé,
Tumbling, stumbling sideways in a drunken stupor, fumbling
With gay abandon, forsaking age.
-Monde Nkasawe-
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