Thank You

Starved as I was found

You fed me your portion

And that way I was saved.

You slaked my thirst

And my parched throat was able to speak.

You gave your life

So that I could live.

For all the concern

You have shown,

All the efforts

You have undertaken,

The indomitable gallant spirit

That never slacks under hellish fiery bullets,

Raining inexorably days and nights,

The long hours you have spent

But above all your blood

You let it be split,

Words however smartly concocted

Sweet scented, bunches of flowers

For remembrance next to your grave put,

Our gratitude to you

They cannot adequately represent.

But we have to use words

And a small token of flowers

For there is no other way

Thank you, we could possibly say

To you on our behalf who is now dead

And the vanguard who is still on guard.

So that our cherished freedom

Shall never be perished.

Copyright Haileselassie Girmay

Draft 26/3/99