Somali artists such as poets and writers are the light of their community to shine at all times in particular at 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

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 war coin
We see people with undiminished spirits
They are our artists poets and writers

They keep surviving in harsh conditons
They have lost everything in the war
But never did they lose their dignity

Under the dead ashes of despair
There lives live ember of talent
I am happy to be one of them