This was handed in as an entry to Amnesty International campaigns. This is why I have included it here. Ill let you guess, what the subject matter was.

UNCLAIMED

Holds to the bowl

Of a chief's house has snapped

His living stream

Ceased pouring from the flask,

What has happened to my inheritance

A son now asks?

What has happened?

The day you heard the sound

Of creaking echoes

Echo back piercing through your anvil?

It was the weaker vessel of your home

Some thought her overcome

But when you heard her frame finally succumb

It was not because of freedom

She squealed her writhen song

What has happened to my inheritance,

You now ask?

When the residues of her dissolved

Like white ash?

And the wind whisked her away

Leaving the scent only of mace

Can't you see?

Your would-be kingdom fell the day

He clenched, tightly seized

The most faithful

"To let her off"

"Make her go!"

"What good was she?"

"Not worth the task

So was your mother

His shadow to surrender

As the blood of anotherflew in her

Her type were the Noirs

And half of you is she, you see

But do you know your other?

Of the native kind, find

In Niamey, Niger?

So what has happened to your well

You still ask?

Now the water ceased pouring

From his fragile flask

And the handle that was torn

Away from his black kettle

His weaker vessel

His damsel to bend the back

No, she coughed, you see!

Yes she piped

She popped through,

Eclipsed indeed!

Who could have told your late chief?

Of his position with no heir

Before the vessel came crashing

His only hope,

His kingdom was divided

His living well was well, exposed!

The locals of his hold thirsty

The remains of the drinking bowl

Blew to enemies

The people his mother cursed

The shadows he barked at

Now they talk back

"Drink from us

Taste your own mercy"

This is your inheritance

Son of his well

This is your piece

Hot and hollow

All of him, and his shells

That are found worthless

And he left hanging

His tongue lying to you:

"Fathers are the ones that eat unripe

Grapes, but it is the teeth of the sons that

Get set on edge."

How will you drink now?