This day, 21st September would be marked on the calendars of many African as one of the worst days in our History.. The Westgate Mall Massacre in Kenya.. Even though it happened just in Kenya, the whole of Africa and the World at large seems to be suffering the effect of this incident.. Unfortunately for we Ghanaian , our joy turned sorrow, on this day, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and unfortunately mourn the departure of another great and illustrious son of the Land Professor Kofi Awoonor who was a victim of the shooting at the Mall in Kenya.. The little I could do was to put together this poem, Hope the message would be sent across ....
FOR HOW LONG
For how long would we live
And how soon would we leave
A question Africa seeks answers to
An answer America is yet to give
And puzzle still being solved by Asia
We have seen it all
From Cars
To Planes
Even Trains
And now Grenades in our Malls
Hiroshima
World Trade Centre
And now Westgate
The fears of our future prostrate to us now
Our past pain reflects in the mirrors of today
And how soon would we leave
A question Africa seeks answers to
An answer America is yet to give
And puzzle still being solved by Asia
We have seen it all
From Cars
To Planes
Even Trains
And now Grenades in our Malls
Hiroshima
World Trade Centre
And now Westgate
The fears of our future prostrate to us now
Our past pain reflects in the mirrors of today
Casting shadows of hopelessness into our tomorrows
For how long would we run
And for how long would the songs of pain be sung
They shuttered our American dreams
And stood us awake to our African Reality
The tears in our eyes interpreting the pain
in our souls
Because even in our homes, we remain slaves to untimely death
Shall we go out and come back by chance?
Or would we accept " ALL DIE BE DIE " as our slogan?
For how long would we run
And for how long would the songs of pain be sung
They shuttered our American dreams
And stood us awake to our African Reality
The tears in our eyes interpreting the pain
in our souls
Because even in our homes, we remain slaves to untimely death
Shall we go out and come back by chance?
Or would we accept " ALL DIE BE DIE " as our slogan?
Because we know not where we'd fall
Would it be in our Churches ?
The Mosques ?
The Shopping Mall ?
or even in our schools ?
Are our lives now like the fowl, who knows not when it would be slaughtered?
Our hearts bleed for the departed
Are our lives now like the fowl, who knows not when it would be slaughtered?
Our hearts bleed for the departed
To the World,
To Africa,
To Kenya and Ghana
Shouldn't we now, more than ever stand together as brothers?
To fight against terrorism and religious extremism
To eat Peace meals from the same bowl
To hug one another
And to unite as one
Would we fight because our brother calls onto Allah instead of God?
And kill just because they would worship God and not Allah?
My Africa is going insane
Our brothers and sister are in pain
May the souls of the departed Rest in Peace
And may this day unite us all to fight for Peace
To Africa,
To Kenya and Ghana
Shouldn't we now, more than ever stand together as brothers?
To fight against terrorism and religious extremism
To eat Peace meals from the same bowl
To hug one another
And to unite as one
Would we fight because our brother calls onto Allah instead of God?
And kill just because they would worship God and not Allah?
My Africa is going insane
Our brothers and sister are in pain
May the souls of the departed Rest in Peace
And may this day unite us all to fight for Peace
By Michael Williams Danso ( Hashmullah Kwophi Mawuli DaCelib8 ) (c)2013
Tears!!! I wish I could taste what this terrorist take as food and know how they think!! Its so sorrowful
ReplyDeleteCharley, we all feel the same way you feel.. how can people just not think, the painful part is, they pride themselves in this senseless act .. hmmmm
DeleteMan, it's just sad. I don't understand how people could justify killing other people in the name of God.
ReplyDeleteGood tribute
Still trying hard to sleep but sleep won't come.. Forgetting Allah is God in Arab and Yussif is Joseph in English.. The extremism is too much... Now in my already broke state, i now have to harbor the fear of going to the Accra Mall self... Thanks for the read Sir...
DeleteThe world today is filled with so much religion, and yet, little love. Religion has hypnotized many into seeing others of different religious background as treats. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteHow i wish everyone would see from where you're seeing Terry... It's so bad...
DeleteWhere is the love? This proves that even Ghanaians are not safe anymore considering how "welcoming" we are to strangers! Dear, Lord, have Mercy! :(
ReplyDeletehmmm, " Where is the Love " .... I think it's the title of the other poem I have to write.. There's nothing like love in our world now... No Accra Mall and Marina Mall for me again ...
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