Black Ethiopia arcane burned face,

How many times were you bed bound?

How many times did you die?

Only to resurrect,

Just like Christ, the Son of God,

And stay on board,

The ship bound abode,

All the same,

The indomitable enemies to face?

Armageddon though it is not yet.

Swarthy Ethiopia burned face -

How many times did you face,

The executioner trying to pierce you with his lance,

And shredded your flesh to pieces?

Only to discover the chemistry you are made of

Have the incredulous quality offensive metals go dissolving dead.

Black Ethiopia burned face -

How many times did you stand in defence,

Of the children you have gave birth

From time immemorial against all odds,

Be it against nature or man made?

Black Ethiopia arcane,

Sang-froid is your disposition,

Even at a time of hardship and extreme pains,

And yet tragically to be misunderstood,

Detractors waging their tails your treasure to loot.

In their pursuit to satiate their greed -

How many times did they lance you to bleed?

How many times did they pollute your rivers,

And scorched to earth your forests?

Oh yes, how many times did the monuments and rock hewed churches got

razed?

How many times did they plunder your wealth?

How many times did they trample your fence?

How many times did they brake your bones to pieces?

And how many times did they rip and slash away your flesh,

Only to discover unremitting proud-flesh emerging

To stave off the intruders afresh?

Paradoxically, how many times obstreperous children of yours

Have been cunningly enlisted,

To disgrace your sovereignty and your good name dusted?

Only in the end to discover,

Your God given divine power,

Is beyond their militaristic hardwires.

Black Ethiopia burned face,

I am one of your races,

I have been away for so long I confess,

But never have I slept in peace,

Amid the aliens I toll with my naked fists,

Without reminiscing your grace,

That one-day the nakedness and brutality you & I now face,

Shall properly be dressed.

Black Ethiopia burned face,

The mother of the oldest and gentle race,

Copyright Haileselassie Girmay

6/12/98