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ABOUT
Kifle Bantayehu
Kifle Bantayehu is a second-generation Ethiopian born in the United
States in 1980. He grew up in Mexico, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and the United States. In 2002, he received his B.A. Degree from the University
of Virginia and currently resides in Virginia, USA. He is a Member of the International Society of Poets and Who's Who of International
Poets. His poems have been featured in several anthologies worldwide. For more
information, please visit www.thehealingconscious.com.
SEE
HIS POEMS BELOW
Generations
A tear leading to a smile, and then, relief
New life of my blood, I cannot believe;
Daughter bears child
The world around us merrily beguiled;
Eyes of mine, hair of hers
A loving face-From your grand-mothers’;
In you our dreams do grow
The Lion of Judah in your blood does flow;
Where you are from child?-Do not forget
From this generation and to the next;
35th Wedding Anniversary
A soft kiss and the warmest heart
One could not ever imagine us apart;
A devoted mother, a tender lover
For me my love, there can be no other;
As stubborn as I was, and likely am still
For our children, and part of my own strong will;
Sure we argued, but I never once raised hand
There was no room for that in a man;
Through tears, smiles, and pain
We sacrificed so much, but more did we gain;
Return we soon shall, to the land of our birth
The new flower, holding arms, for what it’s worth;
Full Circle
From a cell split in multiplicity
To a child, then a woman of such nobility;
You have grown hence, and matured as such
Our daughter, we love you so very much;
A young man knocks on my door
With three others, possibly four;
Bearing gifts for you, and message of course
To ask for your hand in remote discourse;
In solemn agreement the date is set
Your mother’s gown, so well kept;
As lovely as she, gliding down from clouds
Together we walk amongst the gaze of crowds;
A new journey you must take
Full circle you have come and proud do us you make;
A New Land
My children in Africa I have raised
In health and happiness, God be praised;
Instilled in them a sense of pride
And awareness of culture I tried;
Waves of white and darkened blue
Fall upon each other, a subtle view;
From high above specks of green, brown, and grey
Cities and suburbs amongst the fray;
A new land in which we arrive today
They call it America, the land of opportunity;
Self
Self-respect
Self-discipline
Self-loathing
Self-conscious
Self-defense
Self-control
Self-help
Self-pity
Can I think of anything else but myself?
Green Mountains
Rolling gently as waves on the sea
Soaring high as birds above a tree;
These mountains spread far and wide
Like the many roads we take in our life;
Strong in will, yet fragile as we grow
As each green mountain we pass in Entoto ;
Seychelles
Strewn across pink grains of sand
Crescent moon, a pointed star, and palace grand;
This is Seychelles with blue water and sky
White shorts and shirt, passing fish that fly;
Shapes emerge from pure imagination
From these shells in hand of an island nation;
Sun
Heat of Mexico rising in swirls of air
Fingers in earth and sweat in hair;
Surveying these fields of corn so high
Putting in extra time, a quick sigh;
To support a family, sacrifice is due
Sun be kind, what have I done to you?
Woman
Curving figure, long hair, tender skin
Flowing arms, dark eyes, and fingers thin;
With child, gracious, elegant, and in still poise
Soft spoken, loving, gentle, dress of turquoise;
You are me and I am you
My wife, friend, and a woman too;
The Return
In my heart, I longed to return
To my birthplace and help my people learn;
And so at last I had my chance
To teach at the college where I was once;
To live my days here I would love
But life is a journey, with help from above;
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