Peace in Ubuntu

By new guest poet and polymath, Elijah Astute¹

In the battle of souls, where sun meets the sky,
Ubuntu² taking space, like birds on high.
In the depths of our souls, peace finds its place,
Kindness fit spreads; in it we embrace.

Hand in hand, we journey with grace,
Steps by steps, no distance can erase.
Thus journey of peace, we rewrite the story bright,
Peace and harmony, guiding our flight.
Against the endless darkness of the night,
Demolishing the shadows of conflict, fear and greed to awake the path to light.

Through life’s storms and triumphs, together we stand,
We no see people of color but unite hand in hand.
For peace is the gift we give and receive,
A tapestry of the ancients, in which we believe.

They live, we leave and received life.
A symphony of love, celebrating birth.
In understanding, we find our peace,
A melody of soul, never to cease.
A language of hearts from the old and gold the prize we give,
And receive from who they turn it into pieces.

So let’s walk together, in love’s gentle flow,
Embracing peace and harmony, as we go.
For in life’s grand song, where we all belong,
Peace and love forever are strong.

When i close my eyes, i enter a wonderful world
One thousands cries, I hear peace has gone
Shun or not; hear her voice, motherland
Peace will never be brought with guns and bombs
Wanna gather pieces of peace for the work to be done
…… i am not okay

i am not okay ’cause ……
Justice is applied for just us
Killing brothers and sisters
Fathers and mothers ……
and calling it a lifestyle
…… i am not okay

Grains of hate have domain,
…… fighting with brother and sisters without any gain
From the moon and sun nothing remain,
…… We forget that we dwell in the same train.

i am asking, if peace is there?
A sword seems to answer, No;
Go ask elsewhere …… guess i am sure
i’m not okay

‘Cause ……
Peace is what we feel shy to speak;
Vain transporting conflicts …… it’s what we spread;
Passing among brothers with sticks ……

Brains are spoiling peace, and love to spare.
Peace i need—is what you give too?
Peace i give—is what you need too?
Hear my voice, our voices to raise again.

1. Slam poetry by Elijah Astute. Minor edits by Catherin J Pascal Dunk. Image of Elijah Astute is from Alight, Nakivale, Kenya. ↩︎
2. Ubuntu is an African belief system based on interconnectedness and humanity: ‘I am because we are’; see also Nelson Mandela’s explanations. ↩︎