BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
Hey,
Our pristine identity
Due attention to which
We seem remiss to pay,
The freedom oxygen
We inhale today
Also which our off springs
Will breathe tomorrow,
The square shoulder
With which we walk
The ease we talk
Are ascribable to
Indomitable patriots
Our ancestors
To repel, disarray invaders
Valor, prowess no where
Had to borrow!
Are attributable to
Flag-bearers
In the face of an aggressor
On par with Goliad that
Resorted to
Sword, shield, arrow
And to emerge out
With flying colors
Who preferred unity
To nationalism narrow—
a shortfall which
Strikes out from nation’s
Defensive arm
The bone marrow;
Remember that legacy
If we fail,
What a sorrow
Scratching golden history
With soot-greased harrow!
For “Ignoring history
Is ignoring
the wolf at the door”
(John le Carré)
Forget not the divisive wedge
Is predator’s cutting edge
When they’re planning siege
This is
The gist core the adage bore.
By defector to render
The day after tomorrow
For our grandchildren
A world grand
My dear
Do you understand,
Better than our best,
We have to work hard?
Of course
In a different sphere
Alas,
Drag out we have
Our country
From economic morass.
Tap into our wealth
We have, to ensure
Nation’s economic health
That heralds poverty’s death
Like the
Win-win hydropower dam,
On lower riparian countries
Which creates
No significant harm.
Also which the badly-needed
Electricity offer
What is more
Fish food that proffer
Showcasing
How a thing adverse
To advantage,
The ups for grabs,
Go getters reverse.
The adage
“The wanderer Abay
Short of lodging, loafs
From hog to hog
Carrying a log
All the way along,”
That used to echo
In every shore
Is no more.
Also is appreciable
Is the program set
To turn the nation
A tourist magnet!
Also laudatory are
In industrialization
The push ahead
The turnaround
In export trade
For green revolution
The laid robust seedbed.
When evince oneness,
Growth thrust
Ethnic groups all
The nation gets on the ball
Towards even growth
In the set (2063/SDG)
Continental, global goal.
The Ethiopian Herald June 1/2023
