Ethiopian textile design. Image courtesy of Chris Beckett
I am the red Maandita
I am the red Maandita!
I am a true Maandita from across Dobi
the man who said he would never run away from me
I killed him on his sleeping mat
the one with stylish hair, I killed in Namosa
I killed a lover under the eyes of his mistress at Boole
the leader of the camels, I killed at Gegalo
also, to avenge our camels, I killed at Arso
the companions of my youth
you were better than anybody except the Assaba
the Sultan for whom I work
is better than all others except the Prophet
we are not two only
like the teats of the donkey
not four like the teats of the cow
not even six like the teats of a dog!
