Sand promises
“Thousands of desperate migrants die in the desert and at sea, or fall victim to murderers and kidnappers, as they make their way along the ‘eastern corridor’ from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia” - Fred Harter in Obock, Djibouti
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Ethiopia through Djibouti
to Yemen, to hopeful life
runs Sun's angry route
A glum path to escape poverty
impulsive one-way journey
fear strengthens patience
keepers turned exploiters to smugglers
dump or sell or kill their dreams
new brokers fill hopes
shifting sand promises shift their goals
'Selling hair to purchase a comb'
no turning now, walk
starved, extorted, violated, yet
hearsays goad guileless hearts
burying truth, lies march
Copyright © thriveni c mysore | Year Posted 2025
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