The Drum and The Dream Two drums talking to each other,

Sharing a story and a word of prayer. Evoked vivid images of her long-dead sister,

Thus stirring her emotions Of yester-years: The drums alternately repeated their query, One doing it faintly and the other loudly. One said, “She might be among the stars,

Or the planets or galaxies,

On leaving her sister with sobs and tears.”

The other said: “She broke her heart

And wiped out her memories.

Perhaps she was taking

A momentary rest

Miles and miles apart;

Among the woods,

But we neither got a message

Nor received any news.

From the souls on the mountain range, Or the nearby village.” Then the drums kept asking:

What’s our language?

What’s our dream,

Of Paradise and its ever-flowing stream?

Mindful of giving further comfort or solace, And touched by a monk Whose sudden disappearance Was announced with grace. Alternately the drums repeated their query, One doing it faintly and the other loudly.

The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 29 September 2019

BY BERHANU TIBEBU ZEWOLDE