Four years ago at the Michigan Campus Compact Service Leadership Camp, we met a young man from Sudan. He was hoping to study to become a doctor at Michigan State University; still, he had a lot of obstacles to overcome – culture, language, lack of educational preparation.
He lost his whole village, his family at the age of eleven. He finally made it to a refugee camp in Kenya when he was fifteen, after three and a half years of running and walking. His first contact with formal education was at the refugee camp.
He is one of the “Lost Boys” who were brought to the United States. We invited him to be a guest speaker during “Peace and Justice Week.” He came to Madonna University and spoke to us – his story touched me and led me to write this poem.
Eleven
Far village lights
Starry night
Goats around me
My brother at a distance
Cool night breeze
Warm sand on my skin
I slept.
Startled, awakened
Loud voices from the village
Horses, horses, horses
The village burning
In the firelight
My brother running
Guns; Boom, Boom, Boom!
I stood still, watching
Horses galloping
Silence fell
My brother, my mother, my father
Gone, I was no one!
I ran and ran and ran
Away from goats!
Away from ghosts!
Parched throat, sore feet
Hungry stomach
Goat’s milk, bare roots
Away from men burning villages
Alone, I was no one
What then? I was only eleven.
His story have haunted me ever since - so every year I encourage students to have an activity to raise awareness about the plight of the people of Darfur. Action is also necessary to help the suffering for just one little bit.
We have the Darfur Luxury Fast starting December 5 - 12. The idea is for the individual to abstain from consuming luxuries like candy, pop, snacks, coffee, fast food, bottled water, etc. and donate the money saved for the week to the Catholic Relief Services working in Darfur. It is a small token to spread hope.
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