First come the winds, strong as a lioness pursuing her prey,
Then comes the drizzle, sharp as pin-needles, fast as the gazette,
Soon enough the lightning strikes, blazing its glory across the evening sky,
All too quickly the storm takes over.
Trees are hurled, pulled up by their roots; the foundation of their lives
Lost birds in flight try to navigate, but all in vain, for against the current, their direction is nought
Children hold onto their mothers, clinging in fear, yet gripped with anticipation
And just as it began, with the eerie calm of the evening time, so does it suddenly stop
She surveys the disaster; every single twig broken, leaf torn, bird lost
Across the horizon, a myriad of carcasses lie; the remnants of the inhabitants that once roamed free
As her eyes take in the destruction, her eyes fill with tears
As her lips tremble, the evidence of the silent scream she controls does show
As the world looks down at her in pity,her soul keeps on
Keeps on listening to the silent rhythm of the earth that carries the wishes of her people
Keeps on rejoicing, celebrating her fortunes, her culture, her diversity, her beauty
Keeps on working, working to achieve all that she needs, all that she wants, all that she dreams of
Keeps on hoping, hoping without fail, when all other heads hang in despair
Because try as they might to break her, they only succeed in re-making her
Try as they might to deprive her, they only succeed in providing for her
Try as they might to degrade her, they only succeed in exalting her
Try as they might to terminate her, they only succeed in planting yet again, another seed of hope
Another seed of hope with which another day does come
Another seed of hope with which another twig does grow
Another seed of hope with which another brid does fly
Another seed of hope with which another child does play
Her sight she may never regain,
Her hearing she may lose forever,
Her legs she may no longer feel,
But they forget, her soul does strive on
Jemila Abdulai is the creative director, editor and founder of the award-winning website Circumspecte.com. A media and international development professional and economist by training, she combines her business, communications and project management expertise with her strong passion for Africa. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys travel, global cuisine, movies, and good design.