Internationale Poetry-Biennale  -  Filmfestival  -  Salon  -  Netzwerk

Freitag, 25. Oktober, 20.30 Uhr

Christine Yohannes
(Äthiopien / Ethiopia)

 

 

Christine Yohannes wird am Sonntag zusammen mit
⇒ Stella Nyanzi beim ⇒ Creative Europe-Symposium EPESEP
über die Situation in Afrika berichten.

Christine Yohannes is an Ethiopian Writer, a Poet, a playwright and a passionate storyteller but most of all she is a Human Being who is a strong believer in Love.

A 2016 Resident of the International Writing Program, she is Ethiopia‘s only Female Representative since the program started in 1967. She is now one of the writers attending the Villa Waldberta 2024 fall residency in Germany.

Christine Yohannes has changed countries, continents, jobs and appellations constantly; fearless and adventurous, she has thrived in everything she‘s set her mind to with the unshaken support of admirable African Women. She desires to do the same for the Women around her and for future generations.

Foto Martin Richartz/schamrock

My troubles started the day my soul joined earth to sing his praises
I opened eyes and saw the light to beat my heart as the daughter he raises
The one who through thick and thin decides to live as his one and only
This life is mine it ain't for you and yet you want to have a say consistently

I lived a life so true to me whether for you my choices rang wrong or right
At first you thought my youthful soul was too alive you tried taming my fight
Then you decided I had gotten weak when I dedicated my life to service  
You said live a little girl this world has more to offer enjoy it add a vice.

You said I ruined things I touch just coz I learned more than you could ever try 
Instead of conquering the fear that consumed you, it was I who had to cry
So you rammed in, punched in and kicked with every might you had 
Coz you weren't afraid or scared at all, it had to be me that had to be bad

& you weaved a web of lies to soothe your aching heart that beats for pain.

My laughter irked you, my joy jerked you into contentment you despised
It secretly pleased you knowing I hurt, all thanks to what you had devised

My troubles evolved the day my soul remained on earth to sing his glory
I opened my heart to what my eyes could see and it made me weary 
Surrounded by death, by pain, by hate, by war, mischief, corruption & adultery
I was disgusted became opinionated even judgemental and all for free 

And then you thought my aging soul was still alive you tried killing my spirit
You thought if things I loved on earth  disappeared my love would deplete
You didn't account for the depth of how  I feel nor for the fight left inside me
4u this stupid girl would soon give up like all da 1s u made crumble 2their knee

But think again you can't control me…console me or cajole me … I am me
Oh so very very unapologetically me my dear. 
You dreamt of ruining who?
Me?

ABZSH #1
Smoking sometimes helps take the pain away
As if each pull of the ciggy pushes each grope away
Imagine each penetration disintegrate ... as the leaves burn away
Every mangled dead bud crushed to the floor is tortured in a way
Serves its purpose at the hands of its controller and gives way
Each tortured dead bud was pushed faced down against its will anyway
Used & fingered into an existence that was merely for throwing away
Abused into an abyss of darkness that followed the flame's way
Red, Orange, Yellow rays of burning flesh scintillating away
Into the sky with neighbors smelling & watching her fly away

Smoking sometimes helps make the pain go away
As though the sacrifice of a burning body was God's willing way
After all the created existed so the creator could have their way
An existence for the mere amusement for that who is in power anyway
So in silence she presented herself to the altar wishing life away
In case the pain of being a sacrificial lamb was the righteous way
And maybe it would in fact burn all the defilement away
Burnt into a bright blue sky with leaves dancing to the winds sway
A perfect day for a BBQ adorned with sunny gorgeous ray
Smoking sometimes helps ... I wish I smoked the pain away