David Dedi

David Dedi Poems

David Dedi Biography

David Dedi is an anthropologist, historian, author and poet. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, he was born in South Sudan during the civil war. He went to school in Uganda, Kenya and Canada. He currently lives in Vancouver Canada.)

The Best Poem Of David Dedi

What's Her Name?

That place
in the heart of the cradle
where the people love their cows
and bulls share their names
cattle are treasures to keep
cattle for bridewealth to give
cattle for bragging rights
that place where the women love to ululate
and congregate to celebrate
a new born baby
a marriage made
a holiday furahiday
where the children
run and play free
under the great brightness of the sun
where neighbours borrow fire
with ease
or rather
where you are welcome
anytime anyday
to partake
in merrymaking,
without worry
about what time it is
that place
where the Nile comes to rest
lulling and moving gracefully north
meeting friends like the Sudd, the Sobat, the Ghazel
in the valley of the giraffes
that place where the savannah is lush
where the thiang roams free
and eagles sour high in the sky
where the people love to dance
and sing
and party
dusk till dawn
that place where beauty is ebony black
and maiden smiles are milky white
that virgin place so fertile
that richess are shovelled by their kilos
where plants
and eggplants grow bigger than pumpkins
fertile ground much untouched since creation time
by the big ploughs of mankind
Thats what he said,
Who said?
that place
where the teak lineup in perfect salute
and the Imatong watches over the land
where the fruit trees still grow wild
in a wilderness uncharted by explorer men
where the shea butter nut tree is still king
where the lalok is summer's food
where tukuls are homely homes
where the women dance at the boreholes
and gossip laughing out loud
where gazelles dance with grace
under the hovering blades of the chopper
in the parks

where the guns have quietened down

that place
with the brass star
blue triangle and red white black and green stripped colours
home of the charismatic doctor and many unsung heroes
who would shed tears
toss and turn in their graves
if they saw what we are doing
looting our national cake
selfishly stashing it away our way
feeding ourselves
gloating in big hillly bellies
while their poor orphans starve
our mouths fatly oiled by food
while their widows suffer
are suffering
the poor people suffering
please tell me Sir Madam
the name of that place
where our hearts were once made warm
where we fought for freedom
but lost it
to the coldness
of greed
What's her name?

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