Hakko from Miro by Seckou Keita

I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to let it happen.
I'm not going to have a winding path. I'm not going to run or try to hide myself.
If you borrow from people, you might not be able to pay it back.
Whatever you say, I'm not going to take it.
Whatever you think, I'm not going to do it.
I don't want to be ashamed and keep my eyes lowered.
I want to be able to look you in the eye and walk tall.
Yesterday has gone and today is today. I want to live for today and not be troubled by something I have done in the past.
Make a fresh start.
Please forgive me if I have done anything to you in the past.
My wish is to walk in the bright light, under the roof of the sun.
Not to be scared of anything. To be clean of all guilt.
Even though I know I cannot go through life without making mistakes,
I will have fewer enemies if I try to live this way.
Falseness and deception cannot last. The truth will come out.
Why pretend? Live in truth.
Let me also not be the victim.
If you do something to me, I forgive you. Even if you do not ask me to.
Tomorrow I might need your forgiveness.
It is easy to say sorry, and yet it is so hard when you are angry.
You may not want to ask me for forgiveness, but I will still forgive you.
The day of judgement will come someday, so why not be tolerant now and forgiving before it all catches up with you?

• World
• african
• griot
• kora
• senegal
• United Kingdom