Strengthening democracy in a fragmented, parochial & corrupt polity
Mining the abyss: positing a role for economic nationalism

Work the land & earn your living

GABRIEL KUMAN

An entry in The Crocodile Prize
Kina Securities Award for Poetry

Working in the gardenI dedicate this poem to fellow Papua New Guineans who I desire to be self-reliant by working on their land and not to stay idle and make their living on hand-outs….

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I can fly

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I can travel the earth

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I can own the world

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I can manage my own affairs

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I can manage my country

If I can work the land
If I can get my hands dirty
I can tell the entire world
I am independent

Comments

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Mrs Barbara Short

Thank you Gabriel. Your message comes through loud and clear.

The love of money probably drives many to become squatters in the towns and cities where there are limited ways to earn your living. Many of them may become rascals.

But if they can stay at home in their village and work their land and grow fruit and vegetables and cash crops, then they are truely independent.

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