Horn of Africa Poetry from Year of The Poet (Vol 67)
Featured in The Year of the Poet July, 2019 Volume 67.
No Boundaries of Otherness
The Guji people of the Horn of Africa
do not create boundaries of otherness
between themselves and non-humans
in day-to-day conversations
We give priority to “nagaya” peace in Afar
with livestock, children and our surroundings
all forms
living and non-living beings
We say “alaa manni nagayaa?”
an inquiry as to the peace and wellbeing
inside and outside
not of space but of relationship
“Mana” is the home
the inside
includes humans and livestock
with Ayyana spirits
The “alaa” or outside touches on
wild animals, forests and rivers
all living and nonliving things
with which the Guji connect
Abstractly inside is the invisible
the internal peace of the human mind
outside are visible creatures
we experience inner and outer equally important
Acceptance
Peace may start with “aqbal keen”
the acceptance of an idea in Somali
Peace “nabáda” may be set in motion by one
“arrin keen” one who initiates an idea
Tranquility may be launched with a call for peace
“baaqnabadeed”
Peace may begin with “booga dhayid”
healing the wounds and recovering
Calm may be made with words
“nabadeyn” peace making
Important Peace
In Harari spoken in Ethiopia
peace is said “sālam” and “amān”
“amān-be” means well or correctly
in peace and safety
a farewell greeting “amān-be”
literally an invocation to spend the night well
while repeating this word
“amān amān” means important
as if doubling down on peace is vital
for all of us to sleep well
The Year of the Poet Volume 67 July 2019, Inner Child Press, Poetry Posse, Kimberly Burnham, Horn of Africa Peace.
Originally published in The Year of The Poet (Vol 67) at http://www.innerchildpress.com/the-year-of-the-poet.php on July 1, 2019.
