“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
and providing for a large family.
barely existing, he carries the burdens
of ages before and in time to come,
in pride.
He is exhausted with age;
his hands are trembling.
With compassion and understanding
he gives generously to those with less.
Honor him-he is your father.
Schwer wiegt das Muehsal von harter Arbeit
und der Daseinskampf, fuer eine grosse Familie.
Ein Mann traegt die Last von einem Zeitalter
der Vergangenheit und der
Zukunft fortschreitend
mit Stolz und Schaffenskraft.
Er ist erschoepft mit den Jahren.
Seine Haende sind rauh und
schwielig geworden.
Mitfuehlend und verstaendnisvoll,
schenkt er grosszuegig anderen,
die weniger haben.
Ehre ihn,er ist Dein Vater.