There Is Only One Deng Ajak
(a poem by Kola Boof)
Though many are named Deng Ajak
--there is only one Deng
Ajak.
He is all of us.
All who come from the Nile
All whose songs can lift up Papa's
Cow--blessed in village Twic by Sun
All wise ones
Those born and yet to be born
--not named by America
Dinka man,
Dinka Name
We who speak the language
of cattle
(You are seeing)
(You are seeing more)
(You are seeing Village Twic, Sudan)
(You are seeing fresh new bread)
(You are seeing Dinka Woman)
You, the human
You are saying:
These are not my tears
This is not my bitter mouth
The gun in my hand is not defeat I am a woman...
For like all African men
He shall rise through me again
For like all African men
He shall rise through me again
(You are seeing)
This is not defeat.
You are rising.
You are Deng Ajak.
You never die!
