by Abdi-Noor Mohamed
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Somali artists such as poets and writers are the light of their community to shine at all times, particularly such times when there is war or famine. Most of them have fled to North America Canada and Europe to find protection and safety until such time their country comes back to life or, say, gets out of the war coma. Those who remained behind have witnessed the worst of all conditions in terms of survival and security. But they are getting tougher as the winds of anarchy blows harsher. I dedicate this poem to all our artists especially those who still remain in the motherland.
In this land of chaos
Of shooting and killing
Of discord and dissension
In this land of strife
of trouble and conflict
Of resistance and rivalry
We see people armed to fight
We see elders not reconciling
But fanning the fire of hatred
We see souls possessed by the devil
We see insatiable minds disturbed by gluttony
We see hearts driven to misery and desolation
But on the other side of the red war coin
We see people with undiminished spirits
They are our artists poets and writers
Under harsh conditions they are surviving
They have lost everything in the war
But never did they lose their dignity
Under the dead ashes of despair
There lies live ember of talent
I am happy to be one of them
Abdi-Noor Mohamed
Writer and Fimmaker
Mogadishu, Somalia
[email protected]