2023 World Poetry Day: UNICEF Organizes Protect Competition For Children In Borno

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By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri

In  commemoration of  the 2023 World Poetry Day, UNICEF Borno State has  organised a poetry competition for children affected by the  conflict in Maiduguri, North-East Nigeria.

A statement issued and signed by the Communication Officer, UNICEF, Borno State office and made available to journalists in Maiduguri on Tuesday March 21, 2023,  said

the winning poems dedicated to peace in the state and North East  zone by the four competitors, include:

“A place bestowed with peace 

Exalted as the home of peace 

A fortunate scope full of heroes 

Surrounded by young men and women As resilient as a rock.”

“Killing and maiming became a visual perspective Freedom hijacked Lives lost Properties crumble”

“Our eyes are tired of weeping,

Our hearts are sick of woe,

Our days pass heavily”

“But the lamp of hope must glow 

If life must be so full of care,

Then call us soon to thee,

Or give us strength enough to 

Bear our load of misery   – Abbas Bukar Lawan, 17, North-east Nigeria”

“From loud cheers to painful tears

From warm homes to cozy embraces The wind blows cold, heavy with their fears

The skies clad and grey

Condensing into swords of rain

Cutting through our skin

Our blood boils with revenge

But what we need is change 

The grey hair is withering away

Without any wish to stay.”

“When will we see the day?

When the wind will now be light

And the thick clouds would be bright

So the rays of peace will shine

With happiness and cheers

And the lives of the people who perished

Would now be relished “

“Let’s raise up the cup of hope 

And let the rivers flow 

To grow the plant which they sow

And the fingers which chose the contrary of peace 

Would live to reap what the sow – Fatima Husna Zaharadeen, 15, north-east Nigeria “

“I  stand under the sun stranded

Thinking of the days gone by

When people stand in unity and in peace

“The grasses were then green

The wind danced through with ease

Peace was all that we could hear.

“But today, today we hear gunshots

In place of the songs of the birds

Today we receive bullet shell showers

In place of the rainfall”

“Peace torn to pieces.

The soft music of life is now the painful dirge of our soul.

“Only when the power of love

Overcomes the love of power

Then the world will know peace! – Khadija Hassan Elechi, 14, North-East Nigeria 

“Everyone needs free air 

To breath freedom and peace

Let’s make the night bring a brighter day

For the owls to wander throughout the day

“Stones are not food to chew  

For the poor man to relish with stew

The world is greenish on the other side

While here, it’s grey and yellowish

“Bring the key that locks the door

When the bad eggs approach like owls

The light is powerful in its brightness

But the stars never hide in the darkness

“Peace beams the heart brightly

For the soul to inhale and be healed

Peace is water, air and food

That everyone needs to survive. 

‘”Peace is food to the soul 

For the heart feeds on peace – Zainab Umar Alfa, 14, north-east Nigeria “

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