Locked. Words, dead ahead.

They read: Life is not worth

living if there’s no one you

would die for. Dead right.

The Battle of Adwa, 1896

The Battle of Adwa, 1896

Preceding Adwa

Remember this, the Europeans

Carved up our homes with blood thirst,

Not because we were the Third World,

But because we were the First.

Because we held gold in our hearts, Because we had diamonds for eyes,

Because oil ran through our veins,

And a blessing hung in our skies.

Remember this, that when they scrambled In the conference in Berlin

And callously carved Africa,

Searing each African’s skin,

It was not just because of their greed

Or need to sow seeds saturated with sorrow,

But because through Africa’s greatness

They envisioned their own great tomorrow.

The Beginning

Baratieri, the Italian general, had ice instead of eyes

And a tongue of five leather whips.

Ras Alula was deafened by the whisper

Of lies that seeped from his lips.

Through Alula’s agents who could read

The tone of Ethiopian winds,

Their whisper, We will catch the Italian advance

Before the advance begins.

And with anger, that of lions,

And a swiftness of eagles’ wings,

Alula rose magnificent and rode

To the foot of Menelik the king;

With all their five generals, Menelik growled,

Five armies and damned attacks,

It will take one strong Ethiopia

To break their stiffened backs.

Meantime, with pomp and primitive greed,

The Italians embarked upon their plan;

They left for Adwa from Entisco

With night-time a shroud for each man.

Unbeknown every step was recorded

By Alula’s silent speedy spies

Who traced the battalion’s movement

Through the reflections they left in the sky.

The Italians noting the Ethiopian dawn

As a cloak for the surprise attack

Had no knowledge that warriors were waiting

And would give the surprise back.

With all their five generals, Ras Alula whispered,

Their armies and planned attacks,

It will take one strong Ethiopia

To break their brittle backs.

The War

The Ethiopians advanced from below,

A hero’s sacrifice for a country’s love

Suffice as they fell and blood spilled

For another flank to rein from above,

And so unveiled complex manoeuvres

Of hope and honour for history

Whose aim the breaking of evil

And the waking of victory.

The Ethiopians from all provinces

Gathered with truth as protection

Descended around Adwa with justice and honour

And unity as their weapon.

The cracking snapping of rattling rifles

Awoke the morning sun;

From ridges the Italians poured fire

The Battle of Adwa begun:

With all their five generals Ras Mengesha fought,

With their armies and their attacks.

It will take one strong Ethiopia

To snap their stiffened backs.

The Victory

It seemed the more Ethiopians were killed

The more returned.

The more they tried to drench their spirits

The more the spirits burned.

It seemed as if amongst the red mist

Each man who fell wounded rose again,

Each breath of air rejuvenated his lungs,