The galvanizing torrents of the Gambia, <br />In these backwaters of a luscious Casamance <br />The Mandinka mettle reverberates to a sashay of currents <br />A heritage unspoilt, unscathed and pristine in its bounty <br />A colossal iceberg parched by the African sun <br />One in spirit with the ferocious surge of a Gambian princess <br />Roar of a primal Lion, pitter-patter of a lone tribal warrior <br />Lighter than a feather yet rooted to her legacy <br />The bough of a Baobab, standing regal and tall <br />Against the ferocious presence of an omniscient Ra <br />Tirelessly exuding her radiance in an act of a sweltering defiance <br />At the icy façades of the palest of hues, marching with barking canines <br />Hollow ungainly barrels clasped in hand, fedoras burning on the crown <br />As the copious backwaters were transformed to a trading colony <br />Where humanity was anchored to power-wielding collars and the clatter of chains <br />As a precious destiny was swindled by sweeping winds of subjugation <br />As the roaming white man, tainted white water with sanguine smears <br />As the supreme heritage of a foolhardy warrior persona <br />Died a million deaths, to rise back up again two centuries later <br />As she, the Mandinka heritage levitated from the ashes, like a dexterous Phoenix <br />To conquer her terrain, to soar yet again, like an emancipated feather<br /><br />Dilantha Gunawardana<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/kunta-kinte/
