The Saga Of Abdissa Aga Poem by Alem Hailu Gabre Kristos

Suspected of attack
On fascist Graziani
He was in house arrest
As the case was with
Suspects the rest.

A prisoner of war
Thenvia Somalia
He was sent to Rome
Found a black lion
If left at home.


Together with
A prison inmate
From Yugoslavia
Called Julio
He made a rope
Out of a blanket
The reason
To descend down
And escape
From a tower prison.

In a show of contempt
Defyingofficials' attempt
To smoke out a fugitive
On the hide
The two at eventide
Returned to open fire
And attack guards
To setfree prisoners
Indeed, victory was
On their side.

Leading a partisans
Abdisa made it his duty
To gruel fascists
With insurgent activity.

What was the outcome?
Parallel to the allied forces
When he entered Rome
With Ethiopia's tricolor
Around his wrist
He was accorded
A warm welcome.

Then he turned his face
To allied-forces'-
'For Berlin' race
In rooting out Nazi troops
He spurred the pace!

Asked to stay in Europe
He said shalom
"Home sweet home!
As written on the bible
Can an Ethiopian change
His skin
or a leopard its spots?
Doing so
Will it not be a sin? "

The unsung hero
Returned to Addis
Turning Fascist and Nazis'
Wild dreams to zero!