What if?

What if Somalia never had a civil war

we would be the sparking star of Africa

exploring our best

and reaching our greatest potential

What if we didn't fail our country

we would never have foreign vultures preying

on our

land

ocean

people

What if qabil didn't matter

we would have a unified Somalis

unique individuals with different ideas

yet united on the concept of Somalinimo

What if we were united

your hoyo would be chilling with my hoyo

and our abos sipping shax at the beautiful view of sunset at the ocean

and my brother without hesitation would ask for the hand of your sister

without worrying about his or her qabil

What if we cared

our children would not be eating dirt just to fill their belly

our religion would not get hijacked

our identities would not be strangled by the few

who are driven by hatred

What if we didn't hate

we would treat each other with a bit more respect

embrace one another

rather than killing and bickering even in foreign soils

we would be alright with one another, wouldn't we?

What if we behaved like Somalis

we would extend a genuine heart to our people

love our nation and unite

and extend a caring hand to heal those who are wounded

What if a peaceful

stable

success

united

Somalia

wasn't just a dream?

Halima Ahmed

Copyright © 2010