The Plains of Africa

when you touch down here on the African plains
you can almost immediately feel the pains
of a life that grew from nothing at all
greatness achieved but still the blood stains

cultures of complexity started here
somehow they understood but still there was fear
they created technology science and a division of labor
and learned somehow to live with their neighbor

they created transportation writing and math
they started it all they created the path
without their skills in agricultural tricks
we could have never grown just chewing on sticks

and though it all started here so long ago
this area suffers did they forget what they know
this is where my future all began
here was the beginning the beginning of man

we owe it all to these beings so humble and caring
we need to find an end to all of their despairing
  it seems funny that they were the ones stretching the  brain
and now they need educating when there is no rain

infestation of some kind has continually been a thorn
either insects or bacteria for even the newborn
yes they were our beginning the life that we know
we owe our tears and support to help them regrow

  David Nelson ....