Opposite Sides of the Border

2 November, 2009 | 4 comments | Category: Africa, I.dentity, for.the.love.of.words!, i.mmigration, nation & ethnicity, poetry

by guest writer: Liya

Separated by our connection
Divided by common ground
Enmity no longer needs to be understood
Now accepted the way love once was
From opposite sides of the border
We mirror each other’s DNA
Still found soaking the Earth on both sides
Almond eyes traced in black
Hiding beneath the shadow of
A cliff-like brow
Without words we do not know our enemy
Let us sit in silence
For peace to dare return
Let us make sound only to celebrate
Ilil belu be ye-and-andachu qwankwa (rejoice in each of your languages)
Isn’t it beautiful when joy transcends
Like praise from broken hearts to
Silenced lips
Like music to the Heavens

photo: dreamyourealive

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4 comments to “Opposite Sides of the Border”

superman, November 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 pm:

• I am still trying to figure out the whole idea behind the blog of “Opposite sides of the border: Eritrea” What’s the meaning of this blog? The writer seems to grieve about his lost bride on his poem. Well, more like trying to reconcile with his ex lover who left him for another man.
  Perhaps, the owner of the blog can enlighten me.

Semhal, November 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 am:

• I think the writer is grieving about the hostility that has come between Eritrea and Ethiopia and is calling for peace : a call to everyone with open hearts to accept peace and love regardless of our bloody & dark past that was created by our fathers.

Buna Bean, November 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pm:

• I think the first three lines speak to this:
  Separated by our connection
  Divided by common ground
  Enmity no longer needs to be understood

  To separate what is one is a contradiction, paradox. Separations only occurs in our actions and minds. Once we’ve accomplished this sort of separation, the prejudice then filters into generations to come– who hate without understanding what or who they hate. But since, truly, you can not separate what is one– it’s self-hate.

  Smiles and sunshine,
  Buna Bean

smn, January 3rd, 2010 at 8:22 am:

• I love this articles!!! the first three lines indeed say it all. This is powerful! For me, it’s not just about Ethio-Eritrea or other borders, but any us-and-them mentality. We really fail to realize our connection when we focus on fighting about our perceived differences.
  I am a bit confused about the “Without words we do not know our enemy” part though.

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