Waiting for the Rain

Six Word Memoirs

No respect, government. Under pressure, comrades. --Tengo

Couldn't decide a future; always changed. --Tengo

Freedom is not decided by color.

The drought has struck‚ rain... gone. -- Frikkie

Opportunity buds hope. Hope masks fear. -- Tengo

My skin color doesn't define me. -- Tengo

Strive for importance, not others' opinions. -- Tengo

Nothing at all should be different. --Frikkie

Our Freedom must be fought for. -- Tengo

Switching places would be the best. -- Tengo and Frikkie

I'll always fight for my rights.-- Tengo

Education is for all: any color. -- Reverend Harper

My yearning for education: Unfairly denied. -- Tengo

Young and naive. Read some books. -- Tengo

Better not ask any questions, cousin. ーJoseph.

So what if I am black? -- Tengo (to Frikkie)

Using last strength. Working to live. -- Tengo

I can't lose loved ones...again. -- Tengo's mother

I had it all, except Tengo. -- Frikkie

Gifts to Tengo and Frikkie

Where I'm From

Tengo: by HS

I am from a wide open green veld

From hanging biltong on trees

I am from milking cows

And drinking their sweet milk

I am from a place with little rain

Where the crops don't grow fast

I am from the beating sun

And dry sand

I am from red clay

And building bulls out of it

I am from an amazing family

Who loves and cares for me

I am from the township

Where my family lives

I am from the school in Johannesburg

Where I learn all I need to know

I am from boycotts

To get my rights

I am from a place that separates

Blacks and whites

I am from a place

Where there are no human rights

I am from a place that has too many droughts

I am coming from anger

By always being told no

I am Waiting For The Rain

So the grass can continue to grow

Waiting for the Rain: A-Z guide

Where I'm From: by CL

I am from wheat

I am from soil and water

(Oh, am I kidding? That's what I want.)

I am from teachers

I am from Books and studies

I am from dreaming of my friend Tengo where

I want to be

I am from chicken and lettuce

I am from school

I am,

Frikkie

Tengo by JD

I am from the farm

Far away filled with the sour smell of porridge at night

I am from the barn

Where we played as kids and drank fresh milk

That soothed our thirsty little mouths and coated our lips

I am from the hut

That I lived in

Where my family stayed and slept

I’m from being alone

With nowhere to go

Only to face myself in my reflection on the silver tins cups

I’m from hardships and jealousy

To want to go to school and learn

I’m from books to more books

Studying countless nights in my bed in Johannesburg

Far from my family

I’m from the art that I see

That filled me up with inspiration like a balloon being blown up

I’m from arguments and truth

From Joseph and Reverend

Who taught me everything I know

I’m from the bravest

In order to stand up for what's right

from crowds of blacks who protest for their rights

Before the day I left

I never saw Frikkie again

Until the day

The last day at my house before I went overseas

I spoke out all of my thoughts

On what’s wrong and what's right

And it formed me to who I am

To help others

That is me

Where I’m From by AG

I come from cornmeal,

From working under the sun.

I am from owners.

I am from the willow tree

Standing by the water

Whose drooping branches

Describe how I feel.

I am from Timothy and Selina

Wanting me to go to school

But my younger sister is sick

So I have to stay and play soccer myself.

I am from birthdays

Where I help set the table

Watching the other kids play soccer and cricket

And disrespectful white kids

Talking to us like dogs.

I am from believing I will go to school

Reading books I am given.

I am like all the other black kids

I am very eager to learn.

Tengo by MS

I am from sweet-smelling farmlad,

from chores and responsibility.

I am from a segregated community.

I am from the clean, unpolluted air

by tall fields

that controlled our lives--

past, present, and future.

I'm from scraps and leftovers

from much discrimination and no education

I'm from the "kaffirs"

and the lesser-thans

from "Hurry up, Tengo!" and "You can't go to school!"

I'm from the Do-as-You're-Told

with a stern, disapproving look

and punishments.

I'm from Oom Koos' and Frikkie's farm,

fruitcake and tea.

From the land my people lived on first

to the town of dangers

the land we once owned, passed to settlers.

In my hut lay clay figures

each of an animal or person.

hard, dry, red lumps

to remind me of who I am.

I am from those moments-

lost in a daydream-

waiting for true joy and happiness.

Tengo by NS

I am from apartheid

from the laws that separate by color.

I am from Oom Koos's farm

with fields that sway in the breeze.

I am from the clear, fresh air

and the cows I milk

whose udders have

remembered by touch.

I am from a family of five

from a hard-working father and worried mother.

I am from the workers and the discriminated

from "good-working kaffir!" and "don't talk back!"

I am from ancestors

with a hope to regain

the land that once was ours.

In my hand lay figures:

a red bull of my imagination,

work of my hidden talents

to be something more.

I am a dreamer in those moments-

waiting for this horrid law to end-

and to be treated like an equal.

"Where I'm From" (for Tengo) by EK

I am from sour curds

from hand-pulled milk set in the sun to harden.

I am from the banks of the veld's river.

(Pliable, red clay,

my hands yearned to create.)

I am from the box of used schoolbooks,

the endless pool of questions,

who opened my eyes

to the reality of my world.

I'm from soccer and cricket

from Frikkie and his red-haired cousin.

I'm from sweet-smelling hay

and the putrid township,

from "Tengo!" and "Kaffir!"

I'm from tough decisions:

Study for my matric or

join the struggle?

I'm from inferiority and foul treatment,

black tea and bland bread.

From Elijah and Alice's imprisonment

due to boycotting,

the human rights black Africans never had.

Report abuse