Planting The Seeds of Today for Tomorrow

[UZTAAD]

They have done it again, the not for profit organization based in Western Australia, Perth

has successfully showcased an event with the theme of Dhaqan iyo Dhalinyaro last night

at the Cannington Exhibition Centre.

 

Waberi youth Association is a fellowship of like minded Somali Australian Youth working with and for the community to achieve the best attainable community.

 

The event was full of culture, heated debates of the Somali Identity, Speeches, spoken word

and the profound acting which got the audience falling off their seats with laughter. The Elite of Somali community in Perth have taken part and the aroma of Somali cultural items where displayed with authenticity, it was quite an experience if you ask me.

Umulkhayr on the left is the author of the poem

 

 

Waberi believes in planting the seed today for tomorrow hence, the highlights of the Dhaqan iyo Dhalinyaro event for me personally was the Poem written by my little sister who is 15 and born in Australia.

 

She has written a poem titled "The Land of the Poets" for this event and to share her view of the Somali Diaspora. She has never experienced the struggle of the Somali people and the land of the poets was only a figment of imagination, until recently when she tagged along her mother to see a war torn Somalia.

 

When she was reading this poem , I was looking into the audience and have noticed the tears on the faces as she got emotional. I could hear whispers from audience "Wow , that is very inspirational".

 

I hope you enjoy.The Land of the Poets

By: Umulkayr Hassan

 

 

I come from the land of poets

The nation where true poetry resides

Spoken-word is our art

Passed down generations, told with pride

 

But recently

My land has been torn

And instead hatred and hostility

Has been born

 

Oh and through crying

Eyes thus swollen

It seems the voice of the poets

Has been stolen

 

Gone are the sweet melodies

And songs sung from trees

No more gabay

While sipping on tea

 

And

 

Cities once hustlin’ and bustlin’

All the time

Now prime zones

Of organized crime

 

And what once were

The most luscious of women

Now skin and bones and

Dying of malnutrition

 

And the children,

Oh they have been told

Whatever you want

You could have it, just be bold

 

Then they surround them

With guns, blood and gore

And when their report cards come

They wonder why they don’t score.

 

Now their dreams have been

Crushed and burnt to the floor

Do they have a choice

But to join the war?

 

Oh but the grandmothers

With the smooth ebony skin

They just kneel down to pray

With tears falling from their chin

And they say:

 

Oh my people...

What are these tribes and clans we speak of?

Are our mothers and fathers not of the same people?

 

Is not the blood of our brothers of the same importance as our own?

And is not the land we are scarring the very land we call home?

 

Oh and they wonder

When it will all come to an end

When they can sing and celebrate

Happiness again

 

When the children come home

And the men come to their senses

When the land is reformed

With no sign of pretenses

 

Will that day ever come?

Is it written in our fate?

Will the land of the poets

Be Somalia the Great?

 

will the tears we cry

Ever be of happiness not fear?

And will the air we breathe

Ever not be smoke full, but clear

 

And will my people join hands

And march together once more

Singing “Viva! Somalia,

Peace for all”

 

And will gabay fill the air

With sweet sounds of prayer

Oh will the land of the poets

Be the land of the poets once more?

 

http://www.wardheernews.com/Articles_09/October/Foore/10_Planting_The_Seed_Today_For_Tomorrow.html

[purplemist]

Amazing poem! Thanks for sharing.