Thirty something years ago
I ran, bare foot running for my dreams.
Through the waters of Chinyani, I paddled
To get to the plateau, Madamombe School
My Alma mater, where this heart was built.

History, for real, repeats itself.
My name sake, my son, runs that one and half mile.
Again and again he runs, dreaming like I did;
Trying to be the best, the best of whatever.
I see you boy, run, and run for your dreams.

Though for me it's been a tough journey,
It's all worthwhile, cause it's an experience;
It strengthens me, gives me tenacity.
I haven't made it, but I will go on
Dreams are, but my escape, the reason and purpose I hang on.

Never give up son, never you tire, dream on;
Stand up and be seen, never you live on your knees,
For you are better off dying on your feet;
Because in life after death, you will know you tried
It's the dreamers who built Rome.

I see the dry lips, I know you go hungry sometimes;
It reflects in my memory, I went hungry too.
I don't attempt to justify your situation,
I still try hard son, to give you the best.
I struggle, yes I do, because I hope for progress.

I see you perched on that stool,
It's the same I sat on twenty five years ago.
I know you write your dreams, keep writing
I know Teacher Chikuse doesn't play, he was the same with me;
But he gave me dreams, enough to give you some
I learned to listen, it molded me into a man.

I know it's hard when you don't see me, I swear
It's hard as hell for me, because I miss you.
I can’t imagine the pain, if it's more so for you;

But keep running for those dreams, praying and hoping,
They are not as bare as your feet.

I know that African sun scorches sometimes
But you still got to run, run for those dreams.
And I have gone through those freezing winter mornings
I know how hard it is to wake up and run;
Those bare feet made my dreams, frozen as they were.

Your star will always shine son,
Look up in the sky, high up beyond those clouds;
It might be hard to pick, but I promise it's there
It will always shine for you, and
All you need is to keep, searching, keep dreaming.

There are thousands of us, who ran that path.
Those two pronged thorns, gored our feet one a many times;
Yes it hurt, we plucked them out, and we kept going;
Sometimes tip toeing to avoid them, we moved on.
That’s a passion you risk losing in life.

I dream babe, dream of you every night,
How I want to be with you, help with your homework;
How I want to laugh, run after you and,
Challenge that you still can't beat me.
It just grows my ego, to know that
One day, you will beat me to my own game.