Africa cradled civilization,
yet uncivilized of understanding
cries, bleeds, dies, dehumanized, worth nothing.
Blood floods Black Sudan; so drowned the nation,
Nubia's past Aswan Dam’s foundation.
An Islamic wave few care withstanding.
Rape and carnage twist Allah’s commanding.
Genocide, a tribe’s annihilation?
Bony beings, bloated bellies – Babies –
old-age tiny size, your huge tear-dried eyes
plead your plight while we scarce can bear the sights
we see and see with tides of refugees
we’d stem if we'd stop resting on our sighs,
brought all our weight to bear on Human Rights.
If the passion behind your words is heard and headed by those who make and enforce policy there may be hope where hope now is only a word. Humanity is called. Will it answer?
Great piece of work, Helga. It shows not only wisdom and knowledge of subject, but great compassion as well. "Bony being, bloated belly – Baby" <this line is very poignant. I love your summation.
Carmen :-)
Reviewed by Marco Landi (Reader)
Reviewed on April 30, 2004
outstanding imagery Brava...
Reviewed by ***** ********* (Reader)
Reviewed on April 30, 2004
"Bony being with bloated belly – Baby –
Old-aged tiny size, your huge tear-dried eyes
Plead your plight, while we scarce can bear the sight."
Such a painful image this creates, equal parts disbelief, frustration and outrage...!
Outstanding and very artful write, Helga (like we could EVER expect any less from you!), with some outstandingly evocative imagery and a nice history lesson tucked in just for spice!
Beautiful poem. goes straight to the mind and heart. Africa is the cradle of mankind and civilization but behaves like it never had any civilization in all its millions of years of its existence. This has some similarity with my poem, Centennial. Helga Thanks for sharing.
Reviewed by Debashish Haar (Reader)
Reviewed on April 30, 2004
WONDERFUL PETRARCHAN SONNET...(even metric arrangement is almost correct)...Powerful hardhitting poem on the injustices and atrocities in Sudan...
Debashish
Reviewed by Lady Peg (Reader)
Reviewed on April 29, 2004
The ending is so powerful this is excellent and the art stunning.
Sad though the pain and suffering....
Helga Thank you for this one.
How true, Helga! Superb write! I often wondered why we couldn't get a coalition of countries each with a peace corps, to go in and try to bring peace through helpful means, just as they do with their armies for war.
From the land of the milked and honeyed here’s a few political faux pas and a bit of attitude exposed to the harsh light of a Canadian who actually has their own opinion.
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Thank you for sharing you excellent poem.
Carmen :-)
Old-aged tiny size, your huge tear-dried eyes
Plead your plight, while we scarce can bear the sight."
Such a painful image this creates, equal parts disbelief, frustration and outrage...!
Outstanding and very artful write, Helga (like we could EVER expect any less from you!), with some outstandingly evocative imagery and a nice history lesson tucked in just for spice!
Debashish
Sad though the pain and suffering....
Helga Thank you for this one.
Peg