Shanti Shanti
(loosely after Louis Paul Boon)
shanti, shanti, you
are just a human
a human who needs something to eat
some warmth now and then
a bed, not too hard, not too soft
someone who sees you
love, maybe a child
shalom, shalom, you
walk among us barefoot
unarmed, and we just
stamp on your toes!
salaam, salaam, you are
a human who doesn’t feel like
they’re the centre of the universe
a human among humans
who loves other humans
more than flag
or fatherland
Translation: David Colmer
