I am an Ogadenian Woman

 

I am a mother and devoted wife,

Who is saddened by events in her life?

I am a woman,

Who wonders what a woman who never lived the lives of a widow and a childless mother?

Would do in my position.

When she sees her beloved sinking to the earth, clutching his wounds, tars dimming his eyes, would tears flow her eyes?

When she sees her child being carried off by her hair, would she run after her and so seek her own death?

When a mother sees another mother laughing with her daughter does she remember the time she had with hers or can she not relate

When a mother has to listen to her daughter cry as the enemy has his way with her, would she close her eyes and her ears to ignore her innocent child’s cries of pain and in doing so know her own

Or would she stick a dagger in the enemy cold-blooded heart

But is different for the man she loves

When a wife sees her husband head cuts off would she freeze heartache till she can’t fell her heart beating

When he could see her no longer and the blackness of night comes before his eyes as he falls in the dust, would she feel relief that he left this bitter place

 

Or would she feel dread for never seeing his beloved face or hearing his music like laugher

Would she always wonder if he would hate her for having a child that belonged to the enemy even though he knows it is not her fault?

Would she not tell him for fear of becoming a widow?

Would she feel guilty for bringing a child into this world and losing him the day he was born

Leaving a bitter sweet taste in her mouth

Would she beg god for her death to come soon

When she feels the daylight rays seeping into her body, would she wish the rays could burn her crisp

When she goes to bed does she pray never to rise and when she does, does she cry

I am a mother and a devoted wife who is saddened by the events in her life

I am a woman who wonders what a woman who never lived a life of a widow and a childless mother would do in my position

I cannot wish such a life for any one to endure

And to endure such pain is to do nothing at all

I am Ogadenian woman.