I am twelve years old <br />my AK¹ rifle too heavy to carry <br />in the bushes where I fight <br />for the war lords of Renamo <br />against Frelimo in the <br />Tête province of Mozambique! <br /> <br />They dragged me away from my kraal² <br />my parents stood silent without tears <br />to let go... or be killed. <br /> <br />I serve the militia in <br />battle and entertainment <br />and sex with women and men <br />with lots of beer and... <br />now and then a plate of food <br />an innocent child! <br /> <br />I lay landmines around the fields <br />cut off women’s’ breasts <br />and shoot children in the head <br />while I become a man <br /> <br />South Africa! South Africa <br />your milk and honey calls <br />while I vomit on the war lords <br />and their loathsome muck... <br />I flee to your breasts of milk! <br /> <br />Please boss I seek a peace job³ <br />to buy grub... to survive <br />here where I stand on the <br />corner of the street <br />day in and day out! <br /> <br />Thank you boss for work and food <br />to write and speak your language... <br />today I am a man <br />without a rifle <br />and filled with pride! <br /> <br />I am now called Daniël* <br /> <br />Copyright©JohanJ <br /> <br />1. AK: AK47 7,62mm assault rifle of Russian origin. <br />2. Kraal: African word for a complex of huts. <br />3. Peace job: African word for temporary work. <br /> <br />*He changed his name and works now as a machine operator for a garden services in Centurion, South Africa. The UN are doing their best to stop the misuse of children as soldiers. See the following Web page for more information: www.childsoldiersglobalreport.org.<br /><br />Johan Jacobs<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/child-soldier-twelve/
