Demanding salvation to me and my ancestors

[Alemeye Gammo]

Poet  and Writer Alemseged Sisay ( Aleme Gammo) 

 

 

   Demanding salvation to me and my ancestors

 

In one of the first battles for Jerusalem histories

where God intervenes and destroys armies

the Lord causes a rumor to be circulated

amongst the Assyrians that the powerful king

Tirhakah, who ruled over Ethiopia,

was advancing toward Assyria

 

Ethiopian, where you can hear the buzzing wings of insects

That land sends people down the Nile River in reed boats

Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt

will be dismayed and put to embarrassment

 

Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic

for they counted on the power of us, as the verse maker said

in the name of Almighty, and in our dear God

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help

Yes, we had not wend there for assistance, for my nationality I did yelp

 

Then they said again:  who rely on horses, who trust in their profusion

Power with the chariots and in their multitude of horsemen

They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, well said

they do not seek the LORD, in the book as narrated

 

O! Lord, the horse men and the owners of the Chariots

They were our ancestors, the children of king Zerah

Who made a terror on 300,000 men from Judah

And you, the Lord defeated our army

when Asa and the Judean army attacked us chiefly

 

I know why you supported them, because their king begged you

But, we, Ethiopian, worship by you, yes, we do

 

All histories that I have learned from the testament

Now, it is creating to me fear, not to boast

With the history of heroism of our father’s deeds

Because, I see, you warned me and the rest of us indeed

 

Yes, I do. You are God and I am your creatures

Descended from Cush, and I want to be yours

 

 

 

Amen!!

September 3, 2020