This poem is inspired by signs that people, ordinary people, are beginning to take their lives in their hands in many parts of the world, despite all odds and long time marginalisation. It is therefore a tribute to their struggle for life, dignity, prosperity and happiness. Your Millennium Vehicle of humanity Bearers of culture True authors of history What a mystery From Footsteps on the jungle runway To the buzzing electronic highway Robots and machines in place Relief turn threat What a journey So it’s your millennium Castles have been built Great walls and pyramids erected Written with your life Your sweat tears and blood Yet Nobody seems to remember The thief in the night Kings and Generals Great names with wealth and power Rubbed you off your achievements Erasing history’s footprints Making you an object of scorn Just a pawn? As you begin to understand your story A seed begins to germinate In the middle of the desert Its visibility obscured By the tantalising mirages The wealth you make is valued Your worth devalued Suddenly you burden humanity And your children must sing Mea Culpa In wretchedness and dismay As the mighty markets determine their value Your dreams wither away And when the bubble bursts? For kingdoms have come and gone The giant in you begins to roar Awake and luminous Your stars will reincarnate As you claim centre stage Rewriting history Redefining values For you are the real jewel Without you the bubble will degenerate There will be no power No wealth No happiness No culture No society No nations No civilisations How fragile our notions are! So it’s your millennium Your power People’s power The final stage of collective liberation By Alpha Robinson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------