Asylum

Nosizi is the first stateless Shona woman to go to university.
The Shona community have lived in Kenya
for three genetraions yet remain stateless.
Photo Courtesy: UNHCR

Have you ever had

To turn your back

On your home never ever have to look back

Until the distance between you two was far back

And the only memories of home you have

Was all dark and way back

Cause your misery was stark

Strung by the fact of your lack

And your mind is racked

The insanity is stacked

Like diamonds on Liberace packed

Up in his suite guarded by his pack

Have you ever had

To wake up in the dark

And reminisce about the past

You lost while your future's in the dark

Have you ever turned your back

Just to get whacked

Upside your head by a backstab

Ain't nobody there watching your back

No buddy wants to lend a hand

All they want to do is hack

You down to the hot slab

Man, you're stateless n' that's a fact

Tho they know you can't go back

Still they demand you depart

Have you ever had to part

With the sum of your parts

To trade it all for a harsh,

Undeserving, unwelcoming trash.

Hypocrites with snouts that bark

Who give you a runaround but cut no slack

Behind you you can still hear guns Klick-Klack

So you're stuck cause you can't go back.

Akpan