No one understands
Your struggles, trials and tribulations
Your fear and your pain
Like a true African warrior
You have been tortured
You have been shot at
Yet you are still standing
You have kept your family together
You never complain
You go out of your way
To make sure we eat
You have slept under bridges
You have had three jobs at a time
To make ends meet
Yet you are still standing
You have been molested
You have been arrested
You have been abused
But like a true soldier
You just obeyed
You kept quiet
You never told the police
For fear of humiliation
Yet you are still standing
More often than not
You have gone to bed
With an empty stomach
So that I can have enough
Your heart has been torn apart
With cruel words and weapons
Just for me to get a glimpse of education
More often than not
You have gone to bed
With tears flowing down your face
But like a true African man
You stood the test of times
Phiwe Mbatha
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/african-man-2/
