White man
Do you see what I see
A person wiping our tears away
Putting smiles on our faces
Replacing the old bad with the good new
No little boy
I see our lack of help
A world we don’t know
A family we aren’t a part of
Something that’s irreplaceable
No white man
I see a visitor we love
A god we learn from
A man that cares
A brother we understand
Yes little boy
I now see a path to togetherness
A land that appreciates our work
A place where no one is judged by the cover of their book
A community that stands tall despite its differences
Medaase
Medaase
Yes little boy
Medaase
Medaase
Author's Statement:
This poem is about a little boy having a conversation with a worker, like ourselves. The little boy is a student at the school we have been working at, and “white man” is what the kids call us at the school. The conversation starts with the little boy explaining to the white man how much he appreciates the man’s contribution to the community. The man doesn’t believe he has helped the community in the end. The little boy then assures the man that his help has made the community a better place. To end, the man changes his mind and the two exchange “thank yous."
One night, the teachers and students had a reflection over how we felt about Ghana. One question that came up a lot was about whether our help to the Ghanaian community helped or mattered to them. Most people said they felt their lack of experience slowed down the process. People felt that the locals were moving a lot smoother when we weren’t around, and the people of the community laughed as we struggled. One thing remembered is that they were told we are here to help.
No matter how slow we are, having workers in their community seems to mean the world to them. Whether it’s painting walls, working with the electrical system, or playing with the kids, everyone in the community seems to have a smile on their face by the end of the day. I believe we have made a difference in their community that we should be proud of.
This is beautifully written. Have you thought of writing to the children once you are home? I bet this would mean so much to them..that they are not forgotten
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