Cebisile Makeyi

The Forgotten Ones,The Old Ones.

They used to carry us on their sore backs They woke up at dawn to prepare the fire They cooked porridge for us and fed us They taught us how to walk and speak They taught us the way of life.

Now that we are grown up we forget them We can't even hold their hands when they cross the busy roads We refuse to help them carry their luggages and heavy loads We pass them and pretend not to see them walking beside the road We refuse to give them shelter in rainy and stormy days We starve them and ignore their teachings and warnings.

We forget that we are who we are because of them We forget that they did the work of raising us whilst our parents couldn't We forget that we know what we know because they taught us We forget that they are our grandfathers and grandmothers We only remember that they are the old ones.