A Reflection on “We’re the Dream Diggers”
Charles Lipanda Matenga’s poem “We’re the Dream Diggers” speaks deeply about the struggles and hopes of refugees. It paints a picture of refugee camps as places where dreams are buried, calling them “pearly dark graves of dreams.” This phrase is powerful, showing how these camps, meant to offer safety, often become spaces of despair. However, by describing refugees as “dream diggers,” the poet highlights their strength and determination to keep searching for hope, even in the darkest circumstances.
The poem is full of vivid imagery. Words like “tornados” and “turbulent turmoil” bring to life the chaos and instability that refugees face. The comparison of “travel documents” to a “blighted great wall” criticizes the bureaucratic hurdles that prevent refugees from finding freedom and opportunities. These images make the reader feel the emotional and physical struggles of those living in refugee camps.
The structure of the poem repeats the line “Refugee camps are pearly dark graves of dreams,” giving it a rhythmic and almost song-like quality. This repetition emphasizes the ongoing nature of the challenges refugees face. Despite the sadness in the poem, there is also a sense of hope and defiance. Refugees are not just victims; they are described as “solution influencers” and “human rights claimants,” showing their strength and resilience.
The poet’s words also carry a strong message to the world. He calls for solidarity and action, asking others to stand with refugees and help bring change. By doing so, he challenges the reader to think beyond stereotypes and see refugees as people with dreams and potential.
The language of the poem is both simple and poetic. The poet uses contrasts, like dreams versus graves, to show the tension between hope and despair. The fact that it is a self-translation from Swahili adds an extra layer of meaning, symbolizing the effort to connect across languages and cultures.
In this poem, Charles Lipanda Matenga blends art and activism, creating a piece that is both a cry for help and a call to action. It invites the reader to feel empathy, reflect on injustice, and work toward a world where dreams can thrive, even in the most difficult circumstances.
***
To read “We’re the Dream Diggers” Poem by Charles Lipanda Matenga, Please click here
Please visit the Face Book, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Linkedin to follow us on these social media networks — by clicking the relevant icon — to see (and to share with others by you) that how we are promoting and making efforts to give a worldwide reach to the best pieces of fiction and poetry, and other things like APPRAISE of the published elegant works in The LINGO LEXICON and views of the legendries of various languages as THE LEGENDARY TALKS through interviews by the expert interviewers. We also welcome your (the contributors’) and the readers’ precious, prestigious and valuable comments in the Comments Section given at the bottom of this page.
Author
