Look! Today I want you to understand

the essence of our distress:

we're a flock ready for scattering.

Agree with me, men! Mercy, ladies!

Where are leaders like Daniel—

tell us, you clutch of yes-men—

leaders who made no mistakes?

Seek them out in forest depths.

Leaders, shade for the nation,

with truth derived from God.

What's a bird with one black patch?

Hyenas ravage the royal offspring.

Leaders free of foul habits—

seek them: roll out a mat—

leaders free of rash decisions.

Awu! We're covered with chaff from the threshing-floor!

Leaders proven immune to flattery,

who unravel intricate knots;

when they perceive the mess we're in

they'll confer with the God of Custom.

We have no use for liars

who've lost the nation's trust.

I won't say it again, it's final:

hyenas ravage the royal offspring.

We have no use for drunks:

they spawn foreigners’ servants,

they fleece us when they need the bottle,

all our work's flushed down the drain.

Where are leaders like Daniel,

like Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego,

like Joshua, Aaron and Moses,

who scolded the thundering skies?

Those with love, God and unity,

so creatures came out to bask in the sun;

those whose prayers stopped the sun in its tracks,

with eyes raised to snowy heights;

those whose deeds created refuge,

not those whose smooth talk hides their hunger.

Go, handsome man of far-flung Africa,

beat the path to heaven.

A leader's a shade-screened leopard,

who appears in heaven's raiments,

quite clearly the Lord's companion.

I don't say this to put you down.

Men, we need leaders like Daniel,

because we're ground underfoot.

Let black people dance in our sight.

Without seeming to do so I've praised him. Peace!!