Plum Tree Books Features: DiAnne Ebejer & Susie Bertie

It is my very great pleasure to feature two of my favourite poets: DiAnne Ebejer and Susie Bertie. DiAnne’s style is dry, to-the-point, clear and so very deeply human. Susie is quirky, mystical, digging deep into the underlying essence of atmosphere. These are two of the poems they submitted for the Song Of Sahel Anthology, available on Amazon. Proceeds to SOS Sahel.

Beyond The Acacia Trees

by DiAnne Ebejer

What lies beyond the Acacia trees
and dust filled terrain
may not be meant
for kind eyes and warm hearts.
And yet, it is kind eyes and warm hearts
that are desperately needed here.
We cannot let the dust make us blind
to what is happening beyond it,
We cannot turn away because
we cannot bear to look.

Sahelian Kingdoms once benefiting
from trade across the region have long ago passed through.
Flora and fauna is nearly extinct.
What was once a beautiful homeland of fertile lands
lay cracked, parched and barren.

Large populations of grazing mammals are nearly extinct.
The long dry season stretches on and on with no measurable rain.
Natural resources are scant, if at all.

As we step beyond the acacia trees and
dusty terrain, the scene plays out in stark reality.

A baby boy, hands on head cries out in sheer terror.

A famine relief family of many huddles outside their too-small
shelter awaiting food.

A young child in obvious malnutrition seems abandoned
on the side of the road.

A mother and her children and a long empty bowl sit alone
awaiting food and water.

And the scene replays over and over as if produced in
a hall of mirrors by a circus of horrors.

A profound ache of helplessness
hangs heavy in the heart at the magnitude
and the sadness of what is before you.
Who wrote such a lullaby of despair?
What fate spins such a destiny?

In the whole of it, we can only hope
for peace eternal for this wounded land.
But – we can reach out with a helping hand
in some small and meaningful way –
A way that can make a difference

Using our kind eyes and warm hearts we can
Shine a small ray of hope for Sahel.

Hymn of Sahel
by Susie Bertie

Of a million suns . . need rises
hot
from the branches of baobabs
from the arms of mothers ….
mercy lies in shade
and
the generosity of distant
compassion
why suffering is held in the smallest of hands
why rains don’t come to bless parched lands ….
of a million suns ….
weary of hollowness
and
blanched steps
it takes but one
heart
one hand
to
create
a
breeze
of change
to shade the sun
and
seed
the brightest hope

Many thanks to both of these special poets who have also become my friends.

About Dr Niamh

When I was a little girl (a very, very long time ago), I used to love learning new, really big words like ‘discombobulate’. As I grew, my love of words grew too, until I loved them so much, I could not stop writing them down. One day, as I was scribbling a particular word, a very peculiar thing happened. The word shouted at me, “Stop! Don’t put me there!” As you can imagine, I was shocked and nearly fell off my chair. When I recovered somewhat, I said to the word, “Could you stop shouting, please? I am not used to it.” Can you guess what happened next? No! I thought not. The word said, “I might be small, but I will misbehave if you do not use me properly. I will not tell the story you would like me to tell. I will say something entirely different!” I dropped my pen. I hoped that by dropping my pen, the word would stop talking. Alas! It did not. It carried on chitterchobbling, even after the ink had dried. I was in a pickle. I could not allow my words to run away with my story, now could I? I don’t know about you, but when this sort of thing happens, there is only one thing left to do if you prefer not to spend your time arguing. “Very well,” said I. “I will do as you ask if you will just be quiet and allow me to concentrate.” Since that day, I have been paying special attention to every word I invite into my stories. After all, a story should say exactly what it means to say and not be led astray. With love from Dr. Niamh, Ph.D in Learning Through The Imagination and Founder of Dr Niamh Children's Books. www.drniamhchildrensbooks.com

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