Her womb is marked with streaks

She has given birth to different stalks.

Their colour ranging from pink, white, yellow, and black.

Some are short, some tall

Others rotund, svelte, and a blend of both.

Manner wise you get some coarse,

Others suave - amazing grace.

However, of all who burgeoned out of her womb,

This one stands out as behemoth as there has ever been one.

Bestowed with incredible mental and physical strength

No other to-date can ever be compared with.

He has explored the space

And the ocean bed is where he takes his ritual bath.

In simple words, he is paragon par excellent.

So much so, in the fiercely competitive world he lives in, he has

Shrugged off his detractors with great ease, whilst at the same time

Those who offered themselves a challenge, gone are they

Pulverised and reduced to dust under his indomitable fist.

This said, however, at an earlier age, from within he had faced

A one off threat, which if it were successful it could have balked the

Insatiable appetite for good life he now enjoys.

Nonetheless, in the ensuing fierce struggle,

He managed to ferociously devour his own contending brother

With his awesome jaws, as he did to others.

Now scot-free, at last he stood alone

However, despite victory against enemies

Surprisingly, he looked as if a little bit forlorn.

Since no-one has come forward offering a challenge

Smug of his success, the ball game now he decided to change.

This time wrapped with complacence, he started looking in-ward,

And he found who else to turn against but his own image

Unfortunately, this adversary he is starring at looks mean and intrepid;

Unlike the ones hitherto he trod and easily damaged.

Fear for him; fear for his life,

Fear for the luxurious comfort

He will have to leave behind!

For he has now come face to face

With the worst enemy he can possibly get -

Whom he could never be able to beat.

This is the beginning of the end

Of the Big-brother Sam - everyone,

For fear, would like to call a friend.

Copyright Haileselassie Girmay

24/11/2000