22ND OF MARCH WAS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WATER AND I DEDICATED THIS POEM FOR THAT DAY. SOMALIA AS YOU MAY KNOW IS AN ARID COUNTRY WITH VERY FEW WELLS IN THE RURAL AREAS. FIGHTING USUALLY BREAKS OUT BETWEEN TRIBES IN THEIR SEARCH FOR WATER AND PASTURE. IN THIS POEM I DESCRIBE HOW IT LOOKS LIKE FOR A NOMAD TO WATER HIS ANIMALS IN A CHAOTIC WELL WHICH SERVES THOUSANDS OF NOMADIC FAMILIES. THE FIGHTING THAT STARTS OUT OF RESOURCE SHORTAGE IN THE RURAL AREAS MAY DEGENERATE INTO CLAN AND TRIBAL SCALE CONFLICT WHICH CAN EVEN SPREAD INTO THE CITY. IT WOULD SCALATE FURTHER UNTIL IT REACHES THE HIGHER LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT (MINISTERS) WHO WOULD GIVE WEAPONS TO THEIR CLANS TO SETTLE SCORES WITH NEIGHBORING TRIBES. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT A SINGLE FIGHT ERUPTED IN A RURAL WELL CAN EVENTUALLY BRING THE WHOLE NATION DOWN TO ITS KNEES.

GLEAMED UNDER THE HEAT OF SUN
WAS ALI’S WELL-BUILT AFRICAN BODY

IN A DESPERATE LOOK OUT FOR WATER
HE SET OUT FOR A JOURNEY TO JIIGA

HIS EYES TOUCHED A DYING FOREST
AS HE LISTENED TO BIRDS’ SCREAMS

TREES TURNED LEAVES TO THORNS
AS A MEASURE TO CONSERVE WATER

TIRED HOOFS STUMBLED OVER
AS HARSH WINDS SWEPT ACROSS

CHAOTIC THOUGH IT WAS
ALI ARRIVED AT THE WELL SITE

BUT ALI WAS KILLED INSTANTLY
HE WAS ATTACKED WITH A SPEAR.

IF ONLY WE HAD ENOUGH WELLS!