Almajiri
By the roadside,
I saw a knave, suntanned, cloaked in dirt
who, standing upon the ground,
like a famished hermit,
held out a bowl in his hands,
and sang a strange song:
"Allah ya ba ku, ku ba mu babiya Allah
Allah ya ba ku, mu samu babiya Allah"
I asked, what do you sing, friend?
Why do you stand here?
Where is your home?
"There is no home for me, there is no home for me
Father went out and never returned
Mother says, boys my age lay down their lives for Heaven's course;
and thrust me out to fend for myself
Why would a bird once fettered not sing of his freedom?
Is it piety to slay in the name of a sinless God than to sing for peace?
Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests;
my life is a lair of lions, where the vilest vultures prey
There is no home for me, there is no home for me."He replied.
Copyright © Patrick Utitufon | Year Posted 2017
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