Collection of Peacekeeping-Inspired Poetry
by
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(Poem #1)
This first poem you will read below was the very first poem I have ever written in my life and the enthusiasm to write this poem came at a snap of a finger and it occurred during my assignment in
During the course of my work in that peacekeeping mission in Angola, I happened to speak or had a one-to-one conversations with workers being assigned there in various positions, who did not dream that they would be in a faraway land as Angola -- a beautiful country that was in turmoil; a beautiful country rich in mineral resources but ruined by civil war which has been going on for the past three decades; and a beautiful country spoiled by some greedy individuals that did not care about the well-being of its citizens but for their own enrichment and benefit. I had a chance to meet and to work side-by-side with people of varied expertise, but had other dreams in life, some of whom they could not explain.
This poem entitled “Dreams and Hopes” was published in the September/October 1996 issue of the UNAVEM NEWS, the magazine of the United Nations Verification Mission in
“DREAMS AND HOPES”
We all were once a curious child
With dreams and hopes sometimes wild
Some had many, some had small
Somehow, somewhere we made it all.
Some had dreamed to serve the youth
To teach them knowledge and the truth
Some were hopeful to survive
In this world that’s full of drives
Some had dreamed to kneel and pray
To guide the ones that may go astray
Some had loitered to wait and see
How the world can really be.
Some had dreamed to serve the people
To cure the sick, the lame and the cripple
Some had found the world to be
Some place to sleep but nothing to see.
Whichever way we want to go
Our very own fate will lead us so
Don’t be discouraged if you fail
Life’s a struggle, you must prevail.
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About the Book
This book depicts the love of nature and people by this author who worked for the United Nations and its peacekeeping operations in three troubled countries of the world. The nineteen poems in this collection are of varied subjects. During her leisure time while she was temporarily assigned to those troubled countries, she devoted herself to writing articles and poems just as a brain twister.
In this book, the author talks of the various inspirations that led her to write the poems. After retirement from the United Nations, this author started to gather and compile all her poems some of which are filled with emotions as a mother and as a friend; some are tributes to famous people and international personalities; some are delightful and pleasant; and some are of ordinary living and love of nature. Each poem tells a story and the book is very informative to read – one that you will not put down until you reach the conclusion….a must read book!
About the Author
Connie worked for the United Nations Development Programme in
As a peacekeeper, Connie had contributed greatly not only to the work of the United Nations but also to the welfare of the peacekeepers’ community in the mission area by introducing various recreational activities.
Being aware of the dangers that encompass any peacekeeping operations, Connie would remain embedded in the operations compound to avoid what she calls as “being in the wrong place at the wrong time”. During her leisure time, she would resort to writing articles and poems. Most of her writings had been published in its respective mission magazines. This gave her the idea to compile her poems and complete her book entitled Collection of Peacekeeping-Inspired Poetry.