Granary of the Nile
By Atok Dan
Along the swamp of sudd, a land echoes with abundant life,
and sea breezes with a gentle wind
noises of reeds rattle in the unstoppable wind,
creating havoc on the shores,
cranks of reptiles in the Nile
another fear of pending night attacks
On raising eyebrows
one sees poles of fishing nets dotted waters of Nile
tributaries
a granary of life pregnant with hope
a taste of fresh tilapia of the Nile is a live dinner
and never have fishes ever complained of an unjust massacre
fish rights are yet to see light in our lands
they are mercilessly killed
The abundance of priceless waters of the Nile is another source
of the show
a rich piece of land with its open stomach facing our skies
to invite seasonal rains that water our crops
a blessing for our nomadic communities
Misseriya and Dinka all come for grazing
wild beasts of the land brag about in their bushes
a non-penetrable zone to mad poachers
the granary of the Nile is a strength and our gift
On cold nights, papyrus mate is a blanket for herders
sailors dock about with happiness
hoping fresh tilapia will nourish them
with natural fridges full of fresh waters
and gird up ready for the next voyage
with cock crows
fishermen with blushed eyes hurry
in the rescue of their breaking nets loaded with catches of the Nile
a market booms with cheaper prices
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