Inequality of all shades

By Alem Hailu

 

 

Though in dexterity my physically challenged carpenter father,

Than the physically fit proves better,as a source to his anger,

With contemporaries a level ground he enjoyed never!

 

From late childhood there was one thing that me used to bother, why my so discriminated father

On his turn true to cultural dictates,ill treats my domestic chores saddled mother

And heeds not her say though by the sweat of their brow

As responsible parents they were happily bringing my sister and I together?

 

I still wonder why ,why ,why my sister who has IQ

On par with me if not better,to help out mother

Suffering a cold shoulder even by mom was denied the right to pursue education further

While I was given a chance to prove a man of letter(s)?

 

I remember, crossing many a pool, barefooted, I used to trek

A long distance to a nearby town's a school,

Where for my provincial and shabby clothes I was seen a fool

By the relatively rich in showing courtesy far from cool.

Though stationery they didn't lack , sad,I had a hand tied behind my back.

 

Alas,up on joining campus where I yearned for the sagacious a chance

There too in my class,I was looked down by students

Hailing from families of the top brass.

 

When I went abroad for a higher education enjoying fellowship and donation

Worse still, I met many, color has colored whose vision.

Ironically my dissertation was drawing attention

To why should the broad mass be standers by

And with ill-fate marked die

While the favored ,racist and the corrupt few gobble over 3/4 of the pie? /