Rebuild The Dream Home

 

Today being a national of happiness where we celebrate freedom 

and independence as a sovereign nation, I ask the question,

 What good is independence without peace?

What good is freedom without justice?

Today we reflect on how far we have come

From genesis to revelation of the nemesis of the past

From shackles and pains, hands numbed by the manacles of slavery

From infants of war born amidst crisis to this destiny, this country, 

this independence we celebrate today. 

From chemical gases, gun powders and bombs falling from the sky like rain 

on innocent children and women. 

     

     –––––we say we have survived

This was home, this is home

      and this is what we have become.

We have normalized wars, yet we pay the price of the blood we shed

We pay the price of the property we destroy. 

From past of oneness to bitter hatred for a brother

Peace, joy, glory in unity and harmony

    and this is what we have become.

We image home running to seek refuge in the neighboring countries

For home is a rotting ground where birds squat and scavenge on the flesh

of our beloved mothers, sisters, brothers and our dear fathers. 

Home is an unimaginable state of clashes, segregation, tribalism and corruption.

This is home, this is the independence we celebrate today 

when the month of July lies to us that we are free.

We still carry the blood of our innocent mothers claimed by the war

The legacy, the vision of our forefathers whose blood cemented the foundation 

to the freedom and independence of this nation. But yet the foundation that was laid

is now a warring zone. 

So there must be more

There must be more. (more foundations to build again,

more to build again).  More to change, more to build again

In the words of Dr. John Garang,

“There will be no more bombs falling from the sky 

on innocent children and women, instead of the cries and wailing of women,

peace will bless us once more with hearing of happy giggling of children and

enchanting ululation of women who are excited in happiness for the joy of independence”.

This is the independence we want, the dream and the promised Canaan 

We are the leaders ordained from above the blue sky to reclaim the past of oneness

That was broken and buried beneath the dark shadows of segregation, tribalism and wars

We are the leaders to build on the foundation that was laid by our forefathers

Until all this is said and done, until peace reigns and justice flows like the Nile,
Until the past of oneness is our present again, only then,
Only then shall we say —Happy Independence Day, South Sudan.

MZEE MACH