Fareed Agyakwah "A Minute of Silence"

 

Fareed Agyakwah – A Short Biography

Fareed Agyakwah is a Ghanaian poet, author, and literary scholar known for his contributions to contemporary African poetry and literature. His works often explore themes of peace, humanity, and the African experience. He has been featured in prominent anthologies such as Wreaths for a Wayfarer: An Anthology in Honour of Pius Adesanmi, the Best New African Poets 2019 Anthology and World Poetry Yearbook 2024. His book, A Child’s Poetry for Peace, reflects his commitment to using poetry as a tool for social change.

Agyakwah’s literary excellence has earned him several international accolades, including the Temirqazyq-Best Poet-Writer of the World 2019 and the Miembro de Honor 2020. His work continues to inspire readers globally, and he remains an active voice in the literary community, engaging with audiences through social media and other platforms. What a time to observe: "A minute of Silence"!

A Minute of Silence

(Dedicated to World Poetry Day/Month)

A minute of silence for borders that break us,

For lines drawn in dust, yet carved in our minds.

We are one people, beneath different flags,

One big world, yet torn into fragments.

A minute of silence for tongues that tremble,

Speaking of peace with lips sealed by war.

Nations like neighbors, yet strangers in spirit,

Cathedrals pulled down before they are built.

A minute of silence for the children of famine,

For rivers that run, yet quench no thirst.

For fields of gold that feed no mouths,

For the feast of hunger—so full, so empty.

A minute of silence for hands that hold weapons,

When they were made to build and embrace.

For the oxymoron of war and wisdom,

For power that crumbles, yet claims to stand tall.

But silence alone cannot heal our wounds—

Let voices rise like rivers in rain,

Let peace be the anthem of all our nations,

Let unity be the language we speak.

A minute of silence, but a lifetime of action,

For we are one people, in one big world.

God bless the moon, God bless the earth,

God bless you, and God bless me.