Couldn’t draft that much
I couldn’t even write the words: Sudan Unite
Because my pen knows, that I memorized a lot of Jahili Poetry(1)
And still don’t know how Nuer tribes write
I was taught about how Sahaba(2) used to fight
But was never told of how Shilluk people love
Or at the very least, what are their pick up lines
I learned more about Greek mythology, than Dinka mythology..
And oh, the ghost of Che follows me..
But I hardly know of any southern prodigy
Except for John Garang, hmmm, not so true probably
Because I could’ve said to him Thank You in five different languages you see..
Shukran, Thanks, Arigato, Gracias, and Merci
But only today, I learned how to say “Yin Cha Leech” five years after he passed away
“Yakh Hanak Beesh”(3)
Like when I complain if a catchy Indian song was on
Without subtitles..
But stand watching a group of Southerners singing on Harmony(4)
Without harmony, because Harmony trifles their agony
I see them dance, my third eye is not vital, but it’s able to glance
To help me enhance my identity, daydream of a day when we all live in amenity
Back to my serenity towards Secession versus Unity
I’ll find that when Khartoum is recognized as Meeting of the Rivers in the Dinka tongue
And not, The Trunk Of An Elephant(5)..
Look up the word Omdurman too, because it also is relevant
I’ll finish this January, two thousand and eleven
Otherlogy by: Ahmad M. 21.10.2010
Footnotes:
- Jahili Poetry: Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry of the Arabian Peninsula.
- Sahaba: The companions of the Prophet Mohammed
- Yakh Hanak Beesh: Sudanese Arabic slang for "That's bullsh*t"
- Harmony: a locat Sudanese Music TV channel
- Trunk of An Elephant: Khartoum, in Arabic means the trunk in An Elephant (slightly pronounced Khortoum in this case), but actually it's derrived from Dinka Kir and Toum which means meeting of rivers.
Breaking Africa's heart - By: Qotouf Yahia