Girl in the mirror

It was through reflection that I first faced defeat

A standing statue with her soul at her feet

Pitifully crumbled, wishing she came crashing

Alone in her cold zone trapped in unfamiliar bearings

Watching, waiting for me to motion some act of defiance

Just to shatter the shackles of deafening silence

Into million pitches of woeful whimpers, she pleaded through

the eyes that mimicked her

What a warrior chants the choir of still air!

Such a victor signed beyond the thousand mile stare!

His damned entity entwined with the spirit of mother earth

Now manipulates into her through earths dust, her flesh

Slaying their way past chocked tears, retained behind dam lids;

seeping beyond the skin to mourn through swollen eyes

That mimicked her

You see she’s lost this love and would take her loss gracefully

Except he wont execute her heart and let her rest peacefully

Instead he etches his scores upon her flesh deeply

Enticing every atom and particle upon, beyond this dimension to rejoice gleefully

To witness the fall of one who thought she was gifted with life long love immunity

Like the spirit of dust! Mocking dust! Dancing shamelessly

To her tepid blood drops beating the drums of the earth aimlessly

Drip… Step! Drip… Step! Drop… STOP!

It was through reflection that I first faced defeat

Her statue now burying her soul some feet deep

Relishes in the relieve of loss’s serenity

Finally gifting her with pain immunity

Ending his chapter with the closed eyes that mimicked her!

Eva

Copyright © 2011

Insh-Allah TODAY...I write

Today, I stand

and stare into the eyes

of injustice and

watch as they blink first

Today, I implement mental blocks

that alleviate images of

abstract thoughts

Today, I seize my pen

as it bleeds metaphors

that sympathize

with victims near the shores

where famine lays its siege

and dehydration infiltrates

like armed militia

Today, I'll write

constantly because of

drought

conflict

and poverty

I'll write, in this flimsy notebook

to eradicate ambiguous assertions

with phrases and words

as words DO matter

because if the Ummah is a body

and life is a test

with Muslims in duress

how could pain not flow like the ink from my pen

how could it not bleed through my text like a threat

leaving imprints on pages I haven't even wrote on yet.

Abdisalaan Haji

Copyright ©2011

Drought

I am Somalia 

I am Mogadishu 

I am Beled Xaawo 

I am Afmadow 

I am every god-damn city scarred by drought. 

Yesterday I buried flowers that longed to blossom and one that anguished with heart breaks! 

And on this fine day where the sun hides no tear I bury a civilisation of hopeful intellects. 

I see souls that carry faith and patience, overlook crammed camps as they pray for a better tomorrow. 

The earth weeps for it can't hug no more! Begging them please hopeful remain; your call will be answered. 

Mother, hold on, shut your eyes, it wasn't meant to be like this. The order of grief lost its balance. 

I'm sorry to hear 

Cabdullaahi 

Mahad 

Axmed 

Suhuur 

Faarax 

Caa'isha 

Faadumo 

Nimco 

Ayaan 

and Maxamed in their thousands had to die this way. 

Our last breath lacked saliva, wet throat; our judgment call was over in mere seconds 

Oh come on, we heard your promises before. 

Didn't you pledge in exchange for my prayers 

I did recite that prayer, prayed that I grow inside you, so humanity prevail. 

I urge for the blessing of the sky to reside here. 

The news of it arrival is longed for, break this silence, with sigh I utter the word rain 

Patiently we stand in hope to win, so smile and rest; a heart shouldn't fear His test. 

By Sam Said 2011 

Sam Said

Copyright © 2011

Wiping Tears of the Drought

On the floor crying tears for these children

Who look like they could have been my own

Anger blowing like a tornado as I blame myself

How I could have not said a word as I waited

Waiting for someone else

The fires and thunderstorms rage inside of me

I witness the genocide of thousands of my own

Twenty years of petty arguments that led us down to the destination of self-destruction

But then I remember that my anger will not solve a thing

My anger will only blind me in a cloud of unseeing

My anger cannot undo what it done

My anger can only cause destruction

Burning the bridges in a hot inferno

I sit down shaking in a river of my tears

Soaked and chilled all the way to the bones

Waiting for the storm of rage to pass through my heart

I stand up on my unsteady legs

I find my strength within me

I remember that I am not weak

I am not the ones who are suffering with no hope

I am only one person but I can help others

I can go to Dahabshill and send hope to the hopeless

I can tell my friends to do the same

I can talk to those who have influence

I can send letters and emails

I can ask them to help too

I can speak for the voiceless

I am not helpless

I am not weak

I am not afraid

I am not waiting

All over the world millions stand up in a river of our tears

We are not helpless

We are not weak

We are not afraid

We are not waiting

Yes, they are our brothers and sisters but we will wipe our tears and stand up

We will show the world we are not going to stay quiet in this tragedy

We will be strong for those who can’t be

We will share hope with the ones who need it

We will tell them that they are not alone because they have us

We will find a way to never let such a castrophe happen again

We will start a new chapter of the future of Somalia’s history

****We will share hope with the ones who need it- 

Sindiya Darman

Copyright © 2011

Drought 2011

Walking day and night, to seek food and water,

Medical resources, a place to sleep, something better

The people are fleeing, and trying to cope

I also believe in their quest they’re after hope

Hope that someone will be there on the other side

Waiting to aid them and alleviate their plight

It distresses me I cannot reach my horn of Africa family

To support them through what must be, sheer misery

Know that we see your cries and hear your wounds

Whichever way round, our family ties keep us bound

There’s a way rain will come, and that is by the mercy of He

The one who in His great wisdom has let this drought be

I pray that the clouds surround you and yours

Filled with mercy and the water pours

Be patient, there is help on the way

We can’t sit here and watch anymore

If we do, we have to question our core

What is the state of our hearts if we do not respond?

To the call of a nation who’s struggle continues on

I remind you, those faced with this test

That after hardship comes ease, and then your mind will rest

Let’s all work together to offer relief to our people!

Nimo Yusuf

Copyright © 2011

Group Poem 23 (Heartbreak Poems): Full Moon Falling

If we could be 

if only you wanted me

so simple minded 

hard headed 

how could I think we could fit 

breaking up inside 

with all the mind games

my mind is about to split 

breaking inside as my heart wonders off

through your false promises 

and the lies I once adored 

wasting my love for nothing 

my soul burned up to ashes 

say you love me the words 

I've been chasing 

A memory I thought would once happen 

but you've been dragging me for to long 

so I know now

I'm no longer yours now

cant believe I could even imagine 

us being together

no one knows your a heart breaker

cutting the veins of all hearts 

so sad that I thought 

you was that one prince 

the man who manged

to own my tears 

thank you for that satisfying 

sheer deception 

nothing between me and you 

was ever real 

so if I'm sinking 

like the full moon falling 

so take it as a farewell from here

My Dear 

Its Over

 Idil Mahamed 

Copyright © 2011 

Group Poem 23 (Heartbreak Poems):Moon Shine Sonata

Mist in the morning, hazy beauty is in the eye...

Figures take her shape, drowning into lies

Hands clinging to the dark abyss of hope

The chain of fear constricted the hurting throat

Love went on a journey like a traveller

Trust was the companion, always loyal to her

Emptiness fills the empty soul

Sadness ties the heart, constructed of a hole

Rays of light playing on her face

A pearl of tear is shed with grace

The thoughts blaze like fire to her mind

Peace on earth, is so hard to find

Leaned on a shoulder, at last faded away

Time stands still, tomorrow was today

Time, each second ticks with pain

The hand points at memory lane

Listening for the very last time

Her playing the piano, at the prime

Of the violin playing for you and me

The picture that I am unable to see

The hour strikes twelve sitting in the park

It’s not the hour which left me in the dark

It’s her voice, surrounded by the sound

Of the moon shine sonata, falling to the ground...

still

you

somehow

feel

bound

Pen ‘N’ Paper

Copyright © 2011

Feed Family

Only family and only family, that can get that close to me,

keep it tight n strong, unconditional love will i show

keep the grass greener, only if there is any in my back yard

witnessed have i the critics, wasda got(in a good way)

while we know we cant do without them, abdy's words weigh heavy in my heart

n he who heeds his words heels hungry souls, lets call this project"feed family"

for ramadan not rough my people start the harambee my brothers

and do not limit your wallet build that account before ALLAH

and work for jannah ABDY abowe allow me to mention it again

":VISION WITHOUT EXECUTION IS HALLUCINATION"-how true VERY TRUE

Mohamed Abdiwahab

Copyright © 2011

As Little As

As little as another dollar

makes a difference, he’s not even a scholar

doing his maths, thinking “what do I need in need”

parents raising the offspring, the future seed

generous is another spoonful for supper

Bismillah, let them be filled for another

day, fading characters teach you how to live

“if you don’t learn how to survive here, life becomes brief.”

from abroad flies in hope and the monthly support

awaited to ease her conscience and to distort

all the worries, we live and plan for the day

fetch water, trade semolina with rice

Somali bariis garnished with sukhar tastes really nice

from every cabin rises the scent of a different dish

when the sun sets they come together, their ideas of bliss

Insh’Allah, let them believe in a brighter tomorrow

they don’t show it on TV, a sincere smile shows no sorrow

following their daily routine

let me describe another scene.

As little as another dollar

makes a difference, she’s not even a scholar

following her dreams, a future for her offspring

drought might bring hardship, or have a sing

they stand up and take care of their elders

Alhamdulillah, let them be satisfied, while you render

their custom and culture into your language

their soul is singing and dancing, even if living conditions are savage

feel their rhythm and attitude towards life

and you might teach in the diaspora how to survive

“be grateful to what you have got”

you might take into account what you do and do not

“what do you need in need?”

as long you breathe and feed

the young and the old

confused about what you need to grab of a hold?

Masha’Allah, let them bless their stay

let them follow their path five times a day.

 Pen ‘N’ Paper

 Copyright © 2011