I will do the same when freedom and dignity are followed by decent living.
I'd hate to think of 30 years of struggle
Gone to the pockets of a select few
Celebrations of a new year
After year
After a referendum held and a country spelled out
E-R-I-T-R-E-A
Passports stamped out
Symbol- a beast of burden
Both fighters, dependents, descendants
Burdened with so much
Ironic- symbolizes what passed
Of strength, and what came
After families sacrificed
After everything that was lost
For independence
I find it difficult, but I think I will celebrate as well
Only
When the boats stop sinking,
And camps are no longer permanent tenancy
When your organs are yours to keep and
You know exactly where your brothers are imprisoned
When murderers switch penalties with prisoners of conscience
And the promise of gold becomes actual gold
See, we have to know our own resources and rights
Without having to die to see it
When it's safe to return for a visit
Not arrested from the airport
Leaving behind widows and orphans
And when you don't fear being kidnapped again
Once in the UN haven of East Sudan
When you don't need to sigh with longing
Describing the weather and the country
And the memory of neighbors
And home
When you don't have to lie about your origins
To avoid being detained, deported,
Abused, tortured,
Raped, slaughtered
Racially assaulted
Or just as horribly
Ignored
When you are proud of your football team
And not because they defected as the latest refugees
When the only number one spot we hold in the world
Would be different from what Kim Jong-il
Gave to us upon his death
When that KONY campaign has nothing
On what we have for him
When the enemies of the enemy
Stop bickering amongst themselves
And when friends stop wearing their personal pride
On their sleeves
And can debate with minor, meaningless differences set aside
When so-and-so's daughter's scandals
Matter less than so-and-so's stances and struggles
To reclaim his country
Your country
When a Jebena sitting
Or an internet meeting consists of more planning
Than critiquing
More ideas than people
More love than malice
Less defensiveness
More openness
And when people unite once more
As they did when Mr Hamid Idris picked up arms
In the memory of independence we celebrate, fellow citizens
I will do the same when freedom and dignity are followed by decent living
And true unity.
