When the guns go silent

When The Guns go silent

The tum tum of drums

Sweet soothing music

Shall rend the air

The soft sweet wind

Will kiss our faces

The warm glow of the sun shall sparkle

Butterflies flying from flower to flower

And the work songs shall fill the air

When the guns go silent

The forests of the Democratic republic of Congo will be safe once more

The streets of Kismayu will be a jolly place

The sons and daughters of Abyei in the Sudans will run about and play

Carefree, not worried of landmines

When the guns go silent

When the dogs of war come home

The battle hardened child soldiers celebrate their freedom

Our daughters, wives, sisters and mothers no longer sex slaves

In the rugged war torn lands of Africa

We shall dance in circumcision ceremonies

We shall rejoice in weddings

When the guns go silent

New era, a fresh page in our history

When the refugees of Kakuma trudge home

No longer uncertain and scared

Hospitals rise from the ruins

School sprout from military bases

And a huge plume of smoke covers the sky

As the incinerator, the last of machine guns, assault rifles and AK 47s destroy

Tears of joy shall well in our eyes trickle down our sun scorched cheeks

As the guns go up in the smoke

And the last landmine is detonated

A new hope shall be

A new dawn in Africa

When the guns finally go silent

Stanslaus Kyenze

08/11/2013