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Jan 2016 · 378
Had I not
Had I not relished
What I had long cherished
Had I not tasted
And grew out of
What success has in store
Going past  its door,
I would have
squandered my life
With a carcinogenic self pity
For failing to cross floor.
It is when we miss something we consider it great but when we get it we may outlive it.
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice
From What I tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if I had to perish twice,
I think I knew enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

እሳትና በረዶ

‹‹ይህች ዓለም
በሳት ትጠፋለች!››
ይላሉ አንዳንዶች
‹‹በበረዶ!›› ሌሎች፡፡
ፍላጎቴን በምኞት ሚዛን
እንደፈተሽኩት
እሳት ከሚሉት ጎራ ነው ያለሁት!
መጥፋት ካለብኝ ግን ዳግም
ለውድመት በረዶም
እንዳለው ትልቅ ጉልበት፣
እንዲሁም ተመጣጣኝነት፣
ከምሬት ፣በስፋት፣
አግኝቼአለሁ ትምህርት!
(ሮበርት ፍሮስት) //
Dooms day retribution
What worlds of wonders are our books
As one opens them and looks,
new ideas and people rise
In our fancies and our eyes
The room we sit in melts away,
And we find ourselves at play
With someone who before the end,
May become our chosen friend
We sail along the page
To some other land or age.
Here is our body in the chair
But our mind is over there.
Each book is a magic box
Which with a touch
A child unlocks.
In between their outside cover
Books held all things, for their lover

መፃሕፍት

ገልፆ ለሚያያቸው
መሕፍት ምንኛ
ድንቅ ዓለሞች ናቸው፣
በምናባችን በዓይኖቻችን ማእዘን
ይከስታሉ አዳዲስ ሓሳቦች፣
እንዲሁም ልዩ ልዩ ሰዎች!
የተቀመጥንበት ክፍል ድንገት
ጅረት ይሆንና
ይዞን ሲነጉድ
እስከጥግ ሳንዘልቅ ገና
እንተዋወቃለን ሠዎች ደና
የሚያደርጉን ዘና፣
ምናልባትም ለዘልቄታው
የሚሆኑን የኛ
ምርጥ ጓደኛ!
አሊያም ገጾቹን ቀዝፈን
ራሳቸንን ናገኛለን
ወደሌላ ያለም ማዘን
ወይ ዘመን ተጓጉዘን
‘ዚህ ወንበር ላይ
በአካል ተቀምጠን
በምናብ ተሻግረን ዛነን፡፡

‘ያንዳንዱ መፅፍ
የድንቃድንቅ ማህደር ነው
‘ያንዳንዱ ህፃን ይዞ
ሚከፍተው ቁልፉን ጠምዞ፡፡
አጥብቆ ለሚሻቸው
በውጪ ልባሶቻቸው
መፃሕፍት ሸክፈዋል
ሁሉን አቅፈው!
(ኢሌኖር ፍራጂዮን) //
Yes it with wings of books we navigate ages and places
I see their faces
Children I played with when I was a child
Loise comes back with her brown hair braided
Annie with ringlets warm and wild
Only in sleep time is forgotten—
What may have come to them , who can know?
Yet we played last night as long ago,
And the doll-house stood at the turn of the stair
The years had not sharpened their smooth
Round face,
I met their eyes and found them mild-
Do they too, dream of me, I wonder
And for them am I too a child?


በህልም ብቻ

በእንቅልፌ ፊታቸው ውል ይለኛል ድንገት፣
አፈር ፈጭተን ያደግን በልጅነት፣
ሊዊሰ ትመጣለች ቀይ ፀጉሯ አንደተጎነጎነ
አኒ አንደተቆጣጠረ እንደተበታተነ፣
በእንቅልፍ ብቻ
ጊዜው ነጉዷል
ግን ምን አዳጋጠማቸው ማን ያውቃል?
ሆኖም ትናንት አንደጥንቱ
አብረን ተጫውተናል!
አጠፍ ብሎ ከደረጃው መወጣጫ
ይስተዋላል ያ ክፍል
የአሻንጉሊቶቹ ማስቀመጫ፡፡
የነጎዱት ዓመታት፣
ክብና ጥርት
ያሉ ፊቶቻቸው ላይ አላሳረፉም ጭረት፣
የመጨራመት ምልክት!
ዓይን ለዓይን ስንተያይ
ይልቅ ደህና ነገር ነው የማይ፣
‘ነሱም ስለኔ ያስቡ ይሆን?
ይለኛል ድንቅ
ደሞስ እኔ እንዳገኘኋቸው
ልጅ ሆኜ ይሆን የምታያቸው?
(ሳራ ቲሰዳል ) //
We never forget our friends we had during formative years.
Jan 2016 · 429
Opted to escape
Before I got me
Back in shape
Life's unilateral
And busy train
Opted to escape.

Opted life to escape
While I was
Dreaming about
An elixir
Or some sort of help!
Life is too short.Ageing(fast)is a must
Jan 2016 · 605
What a fall
What a fall from grace
The untrustworthy
Are doomed to face!
The price of untrustworthiness!
Jan 2016 · 390
Youth
Lured by your
Elegant posture
When at its best
Appears nature,
Replete with optimism
Courage and adventure,
All welcome you
To lament  and bemoan
Your  quick departure!
When I was a child I was eager to be a youth and I became an adult I wished I remained a youth
I was angry with my friend,
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it with fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright
And my foe beheld its shine
And he knew it was mine.
And into my garden he stole
When the night had veiled the pole,
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
()

መርዛማው ዛፍ

በጓደኛዬ ተናድጄ ነበር
ምሬቴን እንደተነፈስኩ፣
ከብስጭት ተገላገልኩ!
በባላንጣዬ ተናድጄ ነበር
ምሬቴን ስለአፈንኩት አፀደቅኩት፣
የፍርሐትን እንባ ያለፋታ
አጠጣሁት ቀንና ማታ
ፍሬ አፈራ ማራኪ ለእይታ!
ጠላቴ የኔ መሖንዋን እያወቀ
በፍሬዋ ተሰረቀ፣
እናም ጨለማን ተገን አርጎ
ገባ ከአትክልት ቦታዬ ሰርጎ፡፡
ጠዋት ተመለከትኩ
በደስታ በአንክሮ፣
ጠላቴ ዛፏ ስር ተዘርሮ!
We must not have an axe to grind we have to bury the hatchet
It is not like a tree
In bulk doth make man better be,
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year
To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere,
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night—
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see
And in short measures life may perfect be.

የሰው ትክክለኛ መስፈርት

እንደዛፍ መግዘፍ
ሠውን አያደርገውም ከፍ፣
ጭራሽ እንደዋርካ
ለሦስት መቶ ዓመታት
በስፋት ተንሰራፍቶ፣
በመጨረሻ መውደቅ
ደርቆ ፣ተራቁቶና አርጅቶ!
በጥቅምት ወራት፣
ባላንድ ቀንዋ ሊሊ
በጣም ብልጫ አላት፣
አመሻሹላይ ብትደርቅም
የብርሃን አበባና ተክል ናት
በምጥንም መስፈርት
ይስተዋላል ውበት!
ክትት ማለት ሲሆን መስፈርት
ግሩም ሳይሆን ይቀራል ህይወት!
(በቤን ጆንሶን) //
It is also a short poem preferred by many!
Jan 2016 · 1.2k
Back To Square One
That ethnic group,
A tyrant,
Was not a democrat!

On our right
For long it had
Indifferently squat,
Our throat, mercilessly it
Was about to cut.

Now scenario's reversed
The rein of power
We have gripped,
Democracy we
Have introduced!

To the follies
It made in its heyday
It has to pay!
Come on, on it
Swing a stone
The dark days
Have gone!
A change of leaders but not the system
I will be the gladdest thing
under the sun!
I will touch hundred flowers
And not pick one.
I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.
And when lights begin to show
Up from town
I will mark which must be mine
And then start down!


ተራራው ጫፍ ከቀትር በኋላ

ከፀሐይዋ ሥር
እሆናለሁ
ደስተኛ ፍጡር
አቻአልባ በንፅፅር!
መቶ አበባዎች ብዳብስም
አንዲት እንኳን አልቀጥፍም!
እንደዚሁም በመደመም
እመለከታለሁ
ኮርብታውን ተራራውን
ሲያስጎነብሰው ንፋሱ ሳሩን
ሲነሳ ሳሩ ተራውን!
ከተማዋ ከሩቅ
በመብራት ስታሸበርቅ
ብዙም ሳልጠብቅ
ጠንቅቄ የኔን መንደር
እጀምራለሁ ቁልቁል መንደርደር::
(ኤድና ሴንት ቪኒሰንት ሚሌ) //
Appreciating nature greenery
My heart is heavy with many a song
Like a ripe fruit bearing down the tree,
But I can never give you one—
My songs don’t belong to me.

Yet in the evening,in the dusk
When moths go to and fro
In the Gray hour
If the fruit has fallen,
Take it no one will know.

ልቤ ከብዷል

እንዳጎነበሰ ዛፍ የበሰለ ፍሬ አግቶ
ልቤ ከብዷል በመዝሙር ተሞልቶ፣
ግን አንድ በፍጹም ልሠጥህ አልችልም፣
መዝሙሮቼ የኔ አይደሉም!
ሆኖም በጠፍ ጨረቃ ማታ
ነፍሳት ሲወራጩ ከቦታ ቦታ
በግራጫማዋ ሠአት
ፍሬ ከወደቀ ምናልባት
ውሰድ- ማንም አያውቅም!

(ሳራ ቲሰዳል) //
Hidden lust, paradox, opportune moment, emotional infidelity
The rose in the garden slipped her bud
And she laughed in the pride
Of her youthful blood
As she thought of the Gardner standing by—
‘’He is old—so old! And he soon must die!’’
The full Rose waxed in the warm June air
And she spread and spread till her heart lay bare;
And she laughed once more as she heard his tread—
“He is older now! He will soon be dead!’’
But the breeze of the morning blew, and found
That the leaves of the blown rose strew the ground
And he came at noon, that gardener old,
And he raked them gently with the mould.
And I wove the thing to a random rhyme,
For the rose is beauty, the gardener, time.

ቀበጧ ፅጌረዳ

እንቡጥ ፅጌረዳ አንገቷን ሰገግ አርጋ
ብቅ አለች ከአትክልቱ ሥፍራ በአበቦቹ አልጋ
አፍላ የወታጣትነትን ወራት
የሚያጅበው የትኩስ ደም ኩራት
በቃ አፍነከነካት!
ከጎኗ አትክልተኛውን ቆሞ ስታስተውል
የሓሳብ ብርቅታ አላት ውል
‹አርጅቷል በጣም አርጅቷል
በቅርቡ ይሞታል!›
ሞቃታማው የበጋ አየር ስለተስማማት
ክንፎቿን ዘርግታ በስፋት
ምንም ለመደበቅ ሳትዳዳ
ከፈተች የልቧን ጓዳ::
ስትሰማ የእግሩን ኮቴ አንደገና
አሳቃት ደና... ‹አርጅቷል፣ አፍጅቷል
ብዙ ሰንብቷል፣
አሁንስ ይሞታል!›
ግና የማለዳው ንፋስ ደርሶ
ስፍራውን አተራምሶ
ሲሄድ ተጣድፎ
አስተዋለ የፅጌረዳ ክንፍ
በአትክልቱ ቦታ ተነስንሶ፣
ቀተር ላይ አዛውንቱ አትክልተኛው
ሑሉንም በሹካው ሰብስቦ ከላው!
እናም በዚህ ጉዳይ ስለተመሠጥኩ
የስንኝ ቋጠሮ ከተብኩ
እኔ እንዳስተዋልኩት
ፅጌረዳዋ የውበትን
አትክልተኛው የጌዜን
ምስል ነው የሚከስቱት!
(አውሰቲን ዶብሶን) //
Who are we to interfere in the works of God?
Jan 2016 · 570
What a dialogue !
Life -->Death

"Why do
People see your
Behaviour uncouth?"

Death-->Life

"It is simple
You are
A savoury falsehood,
While I am
A bitter truth!"
Ironically death is fair in its judgement
Jan 2016 · 913
Mistake me not for a fool
When you find me by choice cool
Mistake me not for a fool.

If there is a need for being cruel
I could over your eyes pull the wool
With out- heroding- herod's tool.

Unless imbeciles like you
Get a first hand knowledge
What is meant by
A gal-hearted revenge
Or inflicted damage
As goes the adage
"A ball in a China shop!"
They gloat creating
Many a wreckage,
Harbouring a grudge
They could never come to
The same page!
For a lazy and the virtue of gratitude devoid apprentice that stab a mentor in the back.A child that inflict harm on parents
Here’s is an example from
A butterfly;
That on a rough, hard rock
Happy can lie,
Friendless and all alone
On this unsweetened stone.
Now let my bed be hard,
No care take I;
I will make my joy
Like this
Small butterfly,
Whose happy heart has power
To make a stone a flower.

ምሳሌ

አነሆ ምሳሌ ለኛ
ከቢራቢሮ
አልቦ ጓደኛ
ሆና ብቸኛ
የድንጋይ አልጋው
ባይሆንም ደንበኛ
ሻካራ ደረቅ አለት ላይ
ረክታ የምትተኛ፣
እኔም አልጋዬ ቢሆን ደረቅ
ከቶ አልሰቀቅ
ግድ የለም አልቸገር
አሁን ደስታዬን ከዚች
ቢራቢሮ ልበደር፣
ልቧ ጉልበት ያለው
አለቱን ወደአበባ ለመቀየር!

(በዊሊያም ሔነሪ ዳቪስ) //
Lifestyle,taking life easy,contentment with what one has
I bent again unto the ground
And I heard the quiet sound
Which the grasses make when they
Come up laughing from the clay
--We are the voice of God!—they said
Thereupon I bent my head
Down again I might see
If they truly spoke to me.
But, around me, everywhere,
Grass and tree and mountain where
Thundering in mighty glee,
--We are the voice of deity!—
And I leapt from where I lay:
I danced upon the laughing clay፡
And, to the rock that sang beside,
--We are the voice of God!—I cried.


የእግዚአብሔር ድምፅ

ዳግም ወደ ምድር እንዳጎነበስኩ
ጥርት ያለ ድምፅ አደመጥኩ
ቄጤማዎች የሚስደምጡት ፈንድቀው
ብቅ እዳሉ ሸክላ አፈሩን ሰንጥቀው
“የእግዚአብሔር ድምፅ ነን አድምጡን!”
እዛው ጭንቅላቴን ዝቅ አድርጌ
ዓይኔን ሰደድኩ ወደ ግርጌ
በርግጥ እኔን አያናገሩ እንደው
ማወቅ ፈልጌ፣
ግን በዙሪያዬ በየስፍራወ
ሳሩ ዛፉና ተራራው
በደስታ እንደ መብረቅ
ነበር የሚያስተጋባው
‹‹የአምላክ ድምፅ ነን
አድምጡን!››
ጋድም ካልኩበት
በሐሴት የሚፍለቀለቅ መሬት
ዘልዬ በፍጥነት
ቀጥ ብዬ ቆምኩ
እንደዛ እዳደረግኩ
በተመስጦ እያሸበሸብኩ
ከጎኔ ለሚዘምረው ኮረብታ
እኔም በደስታ
‹‹የእግዚብሔር ድምፅ ነን!›› አልኩታ፡፡
(ጄምስ ስቲፈንስ)
Both living and none living things pay respect to God.Birds cheer up mountains orchestrate symphony to God.
Dec 2015 · 1.6k
Moral
Moral is a hydra
That has a head extra!
After 9 failures one has to go for the 10th chance!
My baby, my burden,
Tomorrow the morn
I shall go lighter
And you will be born.
I shall go lighter
And heavier too
For seeing the burden
That falls up on you
The burden of love
The burden of pain
I'll see you bear both
Among men once again.
Tomorrow you'll bear it
Your burden alone,
Tonight you have no burden
That is not my own.
My baby my burden
Tomorrow the morn
I shall go lighter
And you will be born.//


የሜሪ ሸክም

ልጄ የኔ ሸክም የኔዳ
ነገ በማለዳ
እፎይ እላለሁ
አንተን እገላገላለሁ፣
ግና አንተን ብገላገልም
ሸክሜ አይቀልም
ምክኒያቱም ሳስበው
ያንን ሁሉ ጭንቅ
አንተን የሚጠብቅ
እላለሁኝ ሥቅቅ!
የፍቅርን ሸክም
የስቃይን ሸክም
በፅናት ሁለቱንም
አያለሁ ከሰውልጆች ጎራ
ዳግም ስትጋራ!
ነገ ብቻህን
ትጋፈታጣለህ ሸክምህን
ግና ማምሻውን
የኔ የማይሆን ምንም
ሸክም የለህም!
(ኢሌኖር ፍራጂዮን)
Mother to child love.Read her poem called Books
When Susan’s work was done, she would sit
With one fat guttering candle lit,
And window opened wide to win
The sweet night air to enter in.
There, with a thumb to keep her place
She would read with stern and wrinkled face,
Her mild eyes gliding very slow
Across the letters to and fro,
While wagged the guttering candle flame
In the wind that through the window came
And sometimes in the sentence she
Would mumble a sentence audibly
Or shake her head as if to say,
“ You silly souls, to act this way!”
And never a sound from night I would hear,
Unless some far-off **** crowed clear;
Or her old shuffling should turn
Another page’and rapt and stern,
Though her great glasses bent on me,
She would glance into reality
And shake her round old silvery head,
With-“You!—I thought you were in bed!”
Only to tilt her book again
And rooted in Romance to remain

ባልቴቷ ሱሳን

ሱሳን ሥራዋን ሰራርታ
ትቀመጣለች ወፈር ያለ
ሻማ አብርታ፣
መስኮቷን አርጋ
በሰፊው ከፈት
ባለግሩም መአዛውን
የማታ አየር
በደንብ ለመሸመት!
ገፁ እንዳይጠፋባት
አልባ በአውራ ጣት፣
ሻማዋን ንፋሱ እያንገላታት
ተመስጦ በሚስተዋልበት
ቅጭም ያለ ፊት
እየተደመመች ታነባለች
ዓይኗን ከዚህ ወደዚያ
ወደዚህ ከዚያ
በፊዴሎቹ ላይ
እያደረገች ሸርተት፡፡
በዛ ኮሽታ አልባ ፀጥታ
ይሰማል በለሆሳስ ስትናገር
የሆነ ነገር
ወይ ጭንቅላቷን ነቅንቃ ስታበቃ
ስትል ‹‹ምን አይነት ናችሁ
እንዴት ንደዚህ ታደርጋላቸሁ?››
ከሩቅ አውራ ዶሮ ኩኩሉ
ረጭ ብሏል ሥፍራው ሁሉ--
አይሰማም ምንም ድምፅ
ካልሆነ መፅሐፍ ሲገለፅ፡፡
በትልቁ መነፅሯ ልታይ ዙራ፣
ሥፍራውን ማትራ፣
ሽበት ቀመስ ጭንቅላቷን
እየነቀነቀች ወደኔ ያየች
‹‹አንተ ገና አልተኛህም?››
ትለኛለች
ዳግም ወደመፅሓፏ ተመልሳ፣
በተመስጦ የፍቅር ታሪከ ውስጥ
ራሷን ልትረሳ!
(በዋልተር ዲላሜር)//
A descriptive poem you may like as I did.I think translation plays quite a role in introducing poets across all ages to those who are a bit lacking in understanding English
When you lay before me dead
In such pallid rest,
On those passive lips of thine
Not one kiss I pressed!
Did you wonder-looking down
From some higher sphere-
Knowing how we two had loved
Many and many a year?
Did you think me strange and cold
When I didn’t touch
Even with reverent finger-tips
What I had loved so much?
Ah! when last you kissed me,dear,
Know you what you said?
“Take this last kiss my beloved,
Soon shall I be dead!”
“Keep it for a solemn sigh
Through our love’s long night,
Till you give it back again
On some morning bright.”
So I gave you no caress,
But remembering this,
Warm up on my lips
I keep your last living kiss!

የከንፈር ማህተም

ከዚህ ዓለም ተለይተህ
ፀጥ ረጭ ብለህ
ከፊቴ ተዘርግተህ ሳለህ፣
አልሞከርኩም ምንም፣
የማይላወሱ ከንፈሮቸህን ልስም!
ላይ በአፀደነፍስ ሆነህ
ያሳለፍናቸውን የፍቅር ዓመታት አስበሀ
ይሆን ታዝበህ፣
ወስደህ ይሆን ግምት
ሥታገኝኝ ያለወትሮዬ ጭምት፣
በጣቶቼ ጫፍ ንኳ
የወደድኩትን ማልነካ፣
ግና በመጨረሻ ስትስመኝ
ታስታውስ ይሆን ምን እንዳልከኝ፣
“ውሰጅ ይህን የከንፈር ማሰታወሻ
ተቃርቧል የኔ መጨረሻ!
በፍቅራችን የጨለማ ሠአት
ምልክት ይሁንሽ ምናልባት፣
መልሰሽ አስክትሰጪኝ
አንድ ብሩህ ጠዋት ስታገኚኝ!”
ያልዳበስኩህ ለዚያነው፣
ግን እንዳልከው
ወደኋላ ተመልሼ
መልክቱን አስታውሼ
ያን የመሰነባበቻ የከንፈር ማህተም
ልክ ከንፈሬ ላይ አንዳሳረፍከው
ከነግለቱ ይዤው ነው የምዘልቀው!
(ጁሊያ ካሎሪን) //
Julia Caroline is one of the unsung excellent poets.I think this poem about love after death will introduce you to the poet.
The sun with its
Fingers of ray
Caressing and dubbing
Thawed the ice,
Which a brook,
Soon bubbled
Forward to advance!

When will my
Lovelorn and
The frost of loneliness
Congealed soul
Begins to liquefy
In a way
Description that defy
Fine-tuned to
A soul mate's voice
And enticing eyes
With a heart
Engaged in ecstasy
Choreographed dance?
people pine for the day the get a soul mate!
የሆነ ቀን ነው ነገሩ የተከሰተው፣
ዓመቱ ተገባዶ ሲሰናበት፣
ደርቦ ካባ ፀዓዳ ወተት!
ሊጎበኙት መጡ ሁለት ጎረቤቶች፣
የኮናርድ አብሮአደጎች፣
ወና ሆኖ ተዳክሞ አገኙት ሱቁን፣
ገርጥቶ ተቆራምዶ እሱን!
ተወት አድርጎ የሚሰፋውን፣
ፈልጎ እንዲሰሙ የሚለውን፣
“ባንጀሮቼ አድምጡኝ፣
ዛሬ በማለዳ
አውራ ዶሮ ሌሊቱን
በጩከት ሲሸኝ፣
ጌታ በሕልሜ ተገልፆ
ይህን አለኝ
‘እመጣለሁ ቤትህ፣ ልጎበኝህ!’
ይኸው አለሁ
ያለፋታ ቤቴ ውስጥ እንዲሁ ስመላለስ፣
የፅድ ዝንጣፊ ስቆርጥ ስነሰንስ፣
ጠረጴዛውን ስዘረጋ - ስጎትት ሳስጠጋ፣
የሻይ ጀበናውን ስፍቅ - እስኪያብረቀርቅ!
በመለጠቅ አድርጊያለሁ ደማቅ፣
ባለቀይ ኳስ ገመድ፣
በሸሪራዎቹ ቁልቁል ተንጠላጥሎ፣
በየአቅጣጫው እንዲወርድ!
እናም እስኪገለጥልኝ ጌታ፣
እየተጠባበቅኩ ነው የእግሩን ኮሽታ፣
ሲገለጽ በሬን ከፍቼ፣
ፊቱን ለማየት ጓጉቼ፣
ትንሽ ተጠግቼ!”
ባልንጀሮቹ የሚለውን ሰምተውት፣
ሄዱ ቤታቸው ብቻውን ትተውት!
እሱ እንደው፣
በጣም የተደሰተበት ወቅት ነው፡፡
ከዚያ ጊዜ ጀምሮ ቤተሰቦቹ
ተራ በተራ ሞተዋል፣
ኮናርድም ብዙ ብቸኛ ቀዝቃዛ
ገናዎች አሳልፏል!
ሆኖም ነበረው ትልቅ እምነት፣
በእንግድነት ስለሚገኝለት፣
ጌታ ያቺን ቀን፣ ቤቱን እንደሚያደምቅለት!
ነበር ተደስቶ፣
የሚያደምጥ ጆሮውን አንቅቶ!
ድምፅ ሰምቶ ቀጥ አለ በቅፅበት፣
መጥቶ እንደው ጌታ ድንገት፣
ለብርቱ ፀሎቱ ምላሽ ለመስጠት!
ወደ መስኮቱ ሮጦ ሲጠጋ
በዚያ በረዶ የሸፈነው፣
አስፋልት ላይ ያየው፣
ብትቶ የለበሰ ለማኝን ነው -
ምስኪን፣ አፍንጫው የተገነጠለ፣
ጫማ፣ የተጫማ!
“ደንዝዞ ቆስሎ ይሆናል እግርህ፣
ጫማ አለ ሱቄ በልክህ፣
ግባ ልስጥህ-
ኮትም የሚያሞቅህ!”
ለማኙ የሚፈልገውን አግኝቶ፣
ወጥቶ ሄደ ረክቶ!
ኮናርድ ግን
በመገረም ጌታ ለምን እንደቆየ፣
ሰዓቱን አየ፡፡
ከዚያም ቆመ ግራ በመጋባት፣
መቆየት እንዳለበት፣
ምን ያህል ተጨማሪ ሰዓት?
ግን ድንገት፣
ኳኳ የሚል ድምጽ ሰምቶ፣
በሩን ከፈተ ወደዚያ አምርቶ፡፡
ግን እንደገና አየ ሌላ እንግዳ፣
የፈለገች ለመዝለቅ ከጓዳ፣
አረጋዊት የጎበጠች፣
ቲውቢት የደረበች፣
ትንሽ ጭራሮ ከጀርባዋ የሸከፈች፣
እናም እረፍት የማድረጊያ ቦታ ጠየቀች፡፡
ለታላቁ እንግዳ በቀር፣
ሌላ ስፍራ አልነበር!
ጥያቄዋ የመማፀን ድምፀት፣
ነበር የተጫነበት፣
ኮናርድ ‘ቤት ለእንግዳ’ ብሏት፣
ሻይ አፍልቶላት
ከጠረጴዛው እንድታርፍ ጋብዟት፣
እነሆ ጠጪ አላት፡፡
ግን እሷን እንደሸኘ አዘነ፣
ሰዓቱ እያለፈ ስለሆነ!
ደሞም ጌታን ሲጠብቀው ስለቀረ፣
መልክቱን በደንብ ማድመጡን ተጠራጠረ!
ሀዘን ገብቶት ሲያቅማማ፣
ሌላ ድምፅ ሰማ!
“እባክህ እርዳኝ
የት ነው ያለሁት?”
ዳግም የደግነት በሩን ሲከፍት፣
ለሶስተኛ ጊዜ አለው ክፍት!
መንገድ የጠፋት ልጅ ነበረች፣
ሳታስበው በገና ቀን
ከቤተሰቧ ተለይታ የሄደች!
የኮናርድ ልብን ሀዘን ገባው፣
ቢሆንም ልጅቷን ማፅናናት እንዳለበት ተሰማው!
“ግቢ ልጄ” ብሏት እንባዋን አበሰላት፣
እንዳትረበሽ አረጋጋት፣
ቤቷም ድረስ ሸኛት!
ተመልሶ ሲገባ፣
ወደ ክፍሉ ሞገስ አልባ
“በቃ አለቀ ደቀቀ
ቀኑም ተጠናቀቀ!” ብሎ ተሳቀቀ፡፡
ያም ሆኖ
ስሜቱ እንደቀዘቀዘ፣
መፀለይ ያዘ!
“ጌታ ለምን ዘገየህ፣
ቤቴ እንዳትመጣ ምን ያዘህ?”
እያለ ቅሬታ ሲያሰማ
እንግዳ ድምፅ ሰማ
‘ጭንቅላትህን ወደ ላይ አንሳ፣
እኔ እንደው ቃሌን አረሳ!
በደጅህ በምድራኳ፣
በጥላዬ ተጠግቼ በርህን ላንኳኳ፣
ሶስቴ ጎብኝቼሀለሁ ዛሬእንኳ!
እኔ ለማኙ ነበርኩ፣
የቀረብኩህ ብትቶ እንደደረብኩ!
ደሞም ከድካሟ የታደግካት፣ ባልቴት፣
በመጠለያ አልባው ውርጫማው መንገድ፣
ለሆንካትም ልጅ ዘመድ’
(በሔለን ስቲነር ራይስ )
I think this  is the best poem about Christmas,we have to support the needy. I translated it in Amharic. Google and read Helen Stiner Rice's poem 'Christmas Guest'
The Americans call her an Ambassador of Sunshine for her uplifting poem
© Alem Hailu Gabre Kristos
Dec 2015 · 480
A Far Cry From (Revised)
On Christmas, when we mark
The saviour's birth, taking
The night out for a non stop bout
Running amok round the clock
Is a far cry from Christendom!

Christ is not risen for the season.
Oblivious to " Give one if you have two"
Hoarding 20 pairs of shoes
Under a lock
While others walk
Even without a sock
In Christendom doesn't work !


Don't you think we have to visit
The imprisoned and sick?
Also be polite & considerate
With others when we speak!

Humble, Christ was born in a barn
So that modesty show we can!

Christmas conveys a message
Past description about God's incarnation,
In the miracle Saint Mary deserves
No less attention!
Christmas must be a time for repentance, reunion, being happy of our salivation but not otherwise!
Dec 2015 · 1.1k
Remiss in expanding
The mouth of the pit,
For a frog stranded in it,
Is the sky's limit!

Displaying reluctance
To expand mental horizon
That strengthens their stance,
Disputing permeates
Their parlance!
Sometimes misunderstanding occurs due to shallowness of knowledge!
Dec 2015 · 598
A True Friend
When my ambition hits its mark
Or when I am in black
No one shows me his back.

Many are at my disposal for sure
So long as, I have some to offer.

They bleed me dry
And away they fly.

When I am in the red
I have no one around.

A true friend
Without saying it goes
Remains close
Despite the test
The turn of events pose!
Alem Hailu Gabre Kristos
I like all season friends!
Dec 2015 · 845
Double Victory
My Foe cluttered down the pit
He painstakingly dug for me
         To pitch down
            Head first
                *
             *
                 *
             *
             V
             V
In Amharic there is a saying "One will fall in the trap he designs for other's."
To such colleague of mine.
Dec 2015 · 731
Duel Of Hearts
A husband -> a wronged wife

"My dear take a chair
Your affair is unfair
I can't stand
A suffocating air
This way you and I
Could no longer continue
A loving pair
Soon to my parents
I must repair!
How come for love of a ****
A marital vow
You thwart? "

This way since
You decided me desert
For what I did spurred
By transient lust
Chagrin my soul has hit.
As usual in deep slumber
When I extend my hand
To ascertain whether
You have slept sound
And stir you up
So as we sleep entwined
Yet get awake to a tragedy stark
That I but draw a blank
My heart indeed
Incessantly bleed
From the loss it incurred
Your obeisance and love divested.

If you can't find it in your heart
My folly to forget
Forgive me my dear
For without you near
My life turns insufferably sour.

A wronged wife—>A husband

After your body you befouled
And proved a down to earth cad,
After your spirits perfidy you debased
Impudently you demand
As before I should you hold
An esteemed husband.
Indeed this I will not!
For rancor laden my heart
Bleed incessant
It mustn't!
Away to my parents I fled
For you failed to abscond
After what you did.
'Once bitten twice shy'
Forgive you how could I?

A husband—>A wronged wife

Your forgiveness but
Nothing depurate
The blot
In your eyes
Down me brought.
I hope
Forgiveness is the least
Your impeccable heart
Me could grant.
Even the ocean of tears
I wept
Whitewash me still not
My dear there is a second
Man goes wild
And commits a deed
He condemns absurd,
My perfidy to nothing but
To this folly could be imputed.

Man is prone to err
So you should consider
What matters is his bid
Improprieties away to clear.
So my dear
Give me a chance second
To prove, you loving husband.
Your forgiveness will be a credit
That surely you catapult
To ensconce
In the apex of my heart.
A forgiving personality
Is a virtuous quality
Besides your heart
Me 'love' that taught
Which is also on me soft
Won't follow a policy
Watertight and
Once for all me smite

A wronged wife—>A husband

Raving ans volleying
Boisterousness nay, nay!
You stultify
Must not I.

My mind is bedeviled
Since you I missed.
On your misdemeanor
Brood I shall no more
To night
Come to the cathedral
We first met
As a jump-start
Together out
We have to spend the night.
The night's Zephyr wet
Will wipe away
Our disagreement!
We must have a forgiving personality!
Dec 2015 · 1.5k
Truth Has More Risk
'As telling lies
Is dangerous,
To it, you
Have to be averse! '

Parents, teachers
And society
Made me, cherish
This mentality.

Along the age road
The hardest way a new
Lesson I did upload.

Awaits those,
More risk
The truth
Who opt to speak!

For reporting strife,
Beating to
An inch of their life,
Or hacking them with a knife
Detaining the innocent
Has become rife.

Yet come what may
Speaking the truth,
Is what I choose!
For journalists round the world languishing behind bars for speaking the truth
Liberalizing democracy
To the extent of
Embracing *******---
Going out of one's way
To promote ****** orientation--
Is no less transgression
Than strangulating it
With iron censorship--
Simply touting
The government
Is immaculate!
Democracy west/east
Dec 2015 · 716
Bouncing back
Bouncing back
From cold shoulders
And many a rejection,
Resilient,I throw
My full weight
To get
What me await
In the storeroom
Of fate!
Rejections or cold shoulders doesn't mean failure but the twist of fate.Even the most successful didn't find the ardours track of life a rose bed.
Dec 2015 · 556
Regretted I
When I heard today
Your passing away
Regretted I
Failed to pay
You a visit why?

Regretted I
Why, why, why, why
Failed to say goodbye
On your sickbed
Looking at your eye?

Regretted I
Told you not why
Your kindness and honesty
Were descriptions that defy?

Of course
I was submerged
In life's
Rest -not- knowing chores?
A close relative I hadn't seen for over three years died at a hospital while I was intending to visit him
Dec 2015 · 696
The Sound Track of Life
Yes indeed
"Music is life's
Sound Track!"
As on the rail of time
An old song verse
Transports us back
A decade or a score
Even more,
To recollect
A quality time
With a lover
We spent
Though  probably
Now the boat
Is irretrievably lost.

Or it makes us remember
How with a life partner
We vowed to stick together.

May be it mirrors
The grief
When our close person
Turned brief.

What is more
The things we did marvel
When on a travel.

Also it could conjure up
In our head
A historic water-shade
To a new trend
That allowed a go ahead.
The music we heard when a certain incident took effect makes us remember that time
Nov 2015 · 1.0k
A stone can't
Only on grounds of seniority
By default
You try to assume authority
But mind that
Though for a century
Under water comfortably sat,
Swim like a fish
A stone can't!
With no effort to acquire knowledge, at times  some members of the old staff undermine the young staff !
Nov 2015 · 1.2k
Who is the saint?
Is it the pompous pope
That blessed off tanks
And hailed fighter Jets
Bombs to drop,
On modestly armed patriots
Marching for a fair battle
Entertaining hope,
Not suspecting
A non-stop
Rain of
Banned poisonous gas
Lethal as Nazis
Mass destructive soap?

What is more
Is it
The self seeking pope
That sacrificed
An independent
Country, a push over,
Expecting a reward handsome
-  an earthly kingdom?

Or


Is it the martyr monk
Who warned(cursed) the people
And land
To fascist colonizers
Not to give a hand?

What is more
Is it the
Selfless monk
Who was atrociously
By atavists
Gunned down
Scanning the sky for
A heavenly crown!
Up on seeing the monument of abune (monk) Petros
Nov 2015 · 698
What a turn out!
While waiting
For a taxi
By a roadside
A young and  
An energetic lad
Came and
Without courtesy
Pushed me aside
To take a ride
Hopping on
A minibus taxi,
Only for one
Occupant
A place had.

Before ebbs out
My vexation
Another taxi
Drew my attention.

I hopped in
Condemning a grave sin
The lad's action--
"Where is
his sense
of decorum,
Preached on
Religious and
Cultural forum?"

Fast, the second taxi
Almost caught up
With the first,
Which got out of sight
To be stopped
By a traffic light.

Out of a sudden
I heard a deafening blast
That accompanied
Orange tongues of light
While the first taxi
Soared up like a kite.

With no need
To ask why
Such a thing
Happen out of
A clear blue sky
Occupants and I
Out of our taxi
Managed to fly,
For we were
TV sensitized
To keep an open eye
Of terrorist that vowed
To operate on the sly.

Though sad
That cursed lad
Snatched death
From my hand!
Original story  got  from the experience of my close friend.It happened two years back.
Nov 2015 · 1.1k
A shifting goal post
Passionately playing dart
With cupid's arrow
To pierce your heart
I did squander
Many a year
Oblivious I am making
A blunder
Aiming at a goal post
That non-stop wander!
A pensive girl I met in a bar, remorsefully related to me how the man she loves,spent a quality time with and helped for a decade still  downplays and abuse her.
Nov 2015 · 1.0k
Devil could not be God
If willing
Their belief
On almighty
To relinquish
And  from
Their soul
For lucifer
Proffer
A special dish,
For a while,
Devil will not be
Unwilling to grant
Sorcery and occultism
Blindfolded fools
The financial bonanza
They gluttonously wish
Or an earthly pleasure
They die to relish.

But at the height of
Their self contentment,
With a stab on the back
With a sharp knife
Satan will ramshackle
his subject's life.

Devil could
Not be God
However hard
he play-acts
When approached
Ensconced on his abode.
There are still people who go to witches and wizards and the like that have evolved changing faces
Oct 2015 · 3.7k
An ape's bald butts
It is when
It climbs up a tree
An ape's bald butts
Nitpickers can see.

Before  having
The talent on hand
An upstart, one mustn't
Forge forward!
There are people who want get higher posts without acquiring
Oct 2015 · 914
A Tit For A Tat
The *** called
The kettle
‘Black! '
The kettle rebuffed
‘***, cry not foul,
Nor must you bark,
While it is stark,
You are a sooty reflection
Of a night, pitch-dark! '

While the blood of children,
The fair-***, the feeble and the old
Is still fresh in their hand,
Perpetrators of genocide
Demand, the less democrats,
Cursed and shunned
From a diplomatic mission,
Must step aside
By humanitarian law
As they don't abide! /
Wrangling super powers
Oct 2015 · 1.1k
On the wrong heart
When a kid
I used to put
My boot
On the wrong foot!

A grown up
I put trust
On the wrong heart!
Now I make a mistake of a different nature
Oct 2015 · 1.0k
I can't help ask
Three decades back,
A communist,
As a fad atheist,
To my chagrin
You taught us
"God doesn't exist!"

To my surprise
After mass
I saw you yesterday
Kneeling down
Hands upward
Wholeheartedly when
You Pray.

Out of His mercy
And benevolence
No doubt
God will forgive you
At once,
For what matters
Is your repentance.

But  I can't help to ask
What will be the fate of
Of those credulous children
At their formative years
You sent off the track
Without a mental map
To return back?
Based on a true story.Ethiopia, once, had embraced socialism.Though a highly religious country the so called communists were promoting atheism.Ironically taking lesson the hardest way most of the atheist have become  faithful.
Oct 2015 · 4.4k
The wise and the fool
In keeping their head
Above water
The wise draw
A quick lesson
From others' blunder,
While the fool
With a deaf eye  
To many a wrong turn
Their life squander!
For the wise failure could be a steppingstone to success
Oct 2015 · 559
Teacher
With an insatiable urge
For your walk
Chalk and Talk
You illumine the dark
With eternal spark.

Teacher, you torch bearer
You render meaning
To the gist of living
Burning and shining
A lighting candle
Every passing second
That does dwindle.

For posterity you pave way
Which is your sole pay!

Though poverty
Is attached
To your holy profession
Keep on building a nation!
Once I was a teacher. Though I loved the profession, people used to ask me' haven't you yet got a job ? '
Derartu, Haile, Tirunesh
Kenenisa, Meseret, and all
With a similar footfall!

Displaying a superb
Long-distance athletic feat
When many superstars
Awe inspiringly you beat
And as a result of it
When your sought-for
Fought-for
And nation- prayed-for
Dream proves a hit
And also with kudos
A stadium full of people opt
You to greet
And when spectators
Accord you a high five
It is for your country's  flag
You  immediately dive!
Also on the podium
while Ethiopia's row-wise
Green,Yellow and Red
Emblazoned flag,
Shoulder high,
Soars above
You express
Your  umbilical cord-tight
National love
With tears that
Trickle down each of
Your cheek,quick.

Is it because
Reminiscent of
Each living hero
With a life sacrifice
That brought colonial
Aggression to zero?

Is it because
The bounty of the land
You grew up
Seeing first hand?

Is it because
The cherished corner
You cut in the heart of
The poor but prideful
Ethiopian neighbour?

Is it because
The unity in diversity
That showcases
Ethiopia's identity
Or citizens hospitality?

Is it because
At heart strings a tug
Or ,among others
Gratefulness to
Your iron-strong lung
When you hear
Ethiopian anthem sung?

Is it because a secret another
Deep down you harbour?

Is it because the Fertility
Hope and Sovereignty ideals
The flag advance,
Also Ethiopia's being
A beacon of independence
What is more
The nation's renaissance
Which in a curtain of mist
Before your eyes dance?
A poem I prepared this time in connection  with the celebration of the flag day,Ethiopia
Oct 2015 · 1.1k
Like a cigarette
Bro,tell me please
To your heart's content
Enjoying a French kiss
In squeezing out
The nectar of their lady-hood
Not remiss,
Are the lasses
A cigarette
For a while you keep
By your chest
To burn them to ashes
And ignominiously
Squash them down
Under your heels?
For men  who take(****) away everything they need from a woman and run away!
Oct 2015 · 852
To hide a bloodstained hand
'To hide a wood
Plant it in a forest
One could! '
Practise that
Is what we should
To save our neck
When different courses
Time and history take.

Unless a circular we pass
For a handshake with us
How else and where else
Could we hide
Our bloodstained hand?
To make a living citizens have to work but despots and their henchmen contravening the aforementioned right coerce them to follow their example
Oct 2015 · 1.2k
What shall I be?
Shall I be a chameleon?

In a way that
Makes observers sick,
Shall I uncunningly
Side the slick?

Shall I optimize my chance
Echoing both
The good or wrong stance
Of who by unfair means
Seized the rein of power
And hence benefits
Will not be loath
On me to shower?

A chameleon,
Reflecting my surrounding
Shall I be
Self serving
As it has become
Nowadays a common thing?

Shall I be an ermine ?

Keeping my professional
And self integrity
And cleanliness
True to my conscious
To the extent of
Facing an unfolding adverse
Shall I distance
My self
From being
A false witness
On my colleagues
And neighbours?
Waiting for the ripe moment  to meet their end there are people who  don't bat an eye to stab you in the back even if you did them good.
An ermine falls a prey for the sake of its cleanliness, while a chameleon changes its colour according to its surrounding.Read about ermine.
Sep 2015 · 12.1k
Fortunately it resuscitates
As mother nature's
Punitive measure
Against a society
In maintaining
The statuesque
That doesn't bother,
Our rivers
Had become subject
To a water thirst,
To the extent
Of projecting
Rocky ribs
Terrifyingly protruded out
For easy count!

But now thanks to
The all-out, terrace making
And reafforestation effort
Of each catchment
Farmers have made a point
And also  to the afforestation
Move of the government
Rivers aside from quenching
Their insatiable thirst
Have resumed
To brim over
With floods
Drinking water
To their hearts' content.

Our forests once stripped of
Their wooded cover
Have started, fast, to recover
From afar they are seen
Robed eye-catching green
From a fry-pan sky
Allowing a shelter
Also busy
Carbon to sequester.

Wild animals
That migrated
Have preferred
Back their way to find.

Now farmers don't have
Deep to dig
To sink a water well
Or find a nearby spring.

Birds are heard chirruping
Be it winter, summer or spring,
While Brooks bubbling.

Buzzing and hovering
From this to that flower
Bees are producing
Organic honey by the hour.

Promising a bumper harvest
Farmer's plots have
Fortunately continued
To resuscitate!
Those leaving
Their denuded abode behind
Away, who preferred
To stay
'We will return back
home soon! '
Is what
They  say.

Happily enough
Mother nature
Affords us a second chance
Imbued with
Environment stewardship
If  we are willing to mend
Our wrong 'Feast today
famine tomorrow! ' stance.

To dispel the spectre
Of climate change
And systematically face
The global challenge
True to the adage
'We have either to
swim together
or sink together! '

Hence in fighting the challenge
Or adapting to the change
Back scratching,
We have to be on the same page.

Indeed, irrigation must
Not slip our mind
For erratic rainfall
A  lasting solution
If we must find.//

Once a famous Ethiopian Poet  Pro.Debebe Seifu Who had passed away had  penned down a picturesque poem lamenting the land degradation, deforestation and change of climate the country was suffering.The bad scenario seemed unrecoverable.Now a days Ethiopia is reversing that sad episode.I have therefore to write a poem on this
#change   #trees   #erosion   #climate   #deforestation   #enviroment   #degeradation   #desertification
Once a famous Ethiopian Poet  Pro.Debebe Seifu, Who had passed away, had  penned down a picturesque poem lamenting the land degradation,deforestation and change of climate the country was suffering.The bad scenario seemed unrecoverable then.Now a days Ethiopia is reversing that sad episode.I have therefore to write a poem on this.
Sep 2015 · 846
The Clamour Of The Silence
After the burial of
A neighbourhood child
I  stayed in the cemetery
Where lash grasses
And weeds grow wild.
Out of curiosity,
Inscriptions on
Headstones
I began to read.
At  the height of
Her girlhood
To her parents' grief
A lass cut  brief.

I noticed as runs
The adage
“Drinking one's cup
To the last dregs”
Few had passed away
At a full ripe age,
Some had  ceased to be
Of natural cause
While Others
From the challenges
Life is sure to pose.

Reading, I went deep
Into the quiet wood
As far as I could.

A pregnant woman
Hit by a car
A man shot dead
In a bar!

The clamour of
The  silence
Nudged me
While I still have
The license,
Repentant, my sins
I have to confess.

Then I heard from right and left
"Had we been  in your feet
We wouldn't waste a minute!"
"Your sins get rid of it"
"Do it!"
"Wash it!"
"Before God
You have to stand neat !"

"While in full harness
Sins ablution
Is what must come
To your attention!
Don't wait for
Days of retribution!”

Outside, I began my wits
To gather
To make an open breast of
My sins to
My confessing father!
What I felt after staying a bit in a cemetery
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