A Poetic Journey Through Life’s Intricacies and Ethiopian Soul
Dibekulu Geta, known under the pen name Dibe, is a unique voice in contemporary Ethiopian poetry. With Sew Eskale Dres, his third published collection, he invites readers on an intimate exploration of existence, memory, love, and the everyday fabric of Ethiopian life. This volume, spanning 116 pages and priced at 297 ETB (approximately $20), marks a significant contribution to the nation's literary tapestry.
About the Poet
Yalew Azanaw — Dibe’s real name — is more than just a poet; he is a journalist and cultural commentator who brings a reflective, deeply personal perspective to his work. Unlike his collaborative project Nefs Bota, Sew Eskale Dres is fully his own creation. Dibe’s writing philosophy revolves around unveiling the mysteries of human existence without sinking into despair. His poetry carries a philosophical undercurrent, often pondering divine creation, the human condition, and the beauty woven into everyday life.
Setting the Tone: Beauty Over Pain
Right from the first pages, Dibe establishes his intent: to focus on life’s beautiful moments rather than its sorrows. Although still in his 30s, his voice carries the gravitas of someone who has already traversed many emotional landscapes. Poems such as Hiwot (Life) and Bichegnaw Emnet (Inner Peace) reflect this choice vividly. Rather than dwell on hardship, the poet chooses to "polish" memories and highlight the pleasant, the hopeful, and the meaningful.
Philosophical Foundations: Purpose in All Things
In the poem Tewasto (Philosophy), Dibe articulates a worldview that everything in existence holds intrinsic value and purpose. From the grand to the minuscule — creatures, emotions, events — each thread weaves into the grand tapestry of life. This belief grounds much of the collection, insisting on the importance of even the smallest details and reminding readers of the interconnectedness of all things.
Friendship, Nostalgia, and Temptation
Eneho and Meba delves into the warmth of shared memories and lasting friendship. The poet’s intimate recollections unfold with a gentle cadence, inviting readers to reflect on their own bonds. Immediately following, Aynm Aytegbm Wubetm Ayalkm (I Don’t Deny, I Don’t Love) turns with playful humor toward the complexities of attraction and fidelity. Dibe muses on the irresistible charm of Ethiopian women, even jesting that God might regret creating such allure if humans fail to appreciate it.
Love’s Silence and Life’s Circularity
A tonal shift occurs in Mulu Kutr Zero (Full Circle Zero), where a love story quietly unravels. The couple at the center never openly declares their feelings, leading to a loss of connection and meaning. The poem’s central symbol, the zero, embodies the cycle of life — beginnings and endings folding into one another, the void left by what remains unsaid. This meditation on unexpressed love underscores the fragility of human relationships.
Innovative Structure: Poetry in Every Layer
One striking feature of Sew Eskale Dres is its poetic table of contents, crafted not as a dry list but as verse. This sets a lyrical mood before the first poem is even read. The book is carefully segmented by themes and emotional tone, allowing readers to journey smoothly from one poem to another. The preface, titled Sintun (Exhaustion), is itself a poem where Dibe confesses his emotional fatigue in trying to capture life’s essence. He admits to focusing on life’s outer beauty, leaving deeper pain unspoken, which aligns with the collection’s broader aesthetic.
Life’s Duality: Light and Shadow
Hiwot opens the collection by painting life as a cycle of contrasts: childhood and adulthood, joy and sorrow, growth and decline. Using symbols such as the moon’s phases, the sun’s daily journey, and tents used for both weddings and funerals, the poem embraces life’s full spectrum:
“Childhood,
adulthood, and growth
Knowledge towards right and wrong
The vicious circle event that teaches everything
Reflects the exact face of human nature
Of a pity creature made of laughter and bitter.”
Here, Dibe introduces his conviction that morality is relative; no absolute right or wrong exists. This theme reappears later, most notably in Yesew Zer (Human Mistakes), where the poet writes with a self-aware tone:
“With all the
mistakes I commit
I’m absolutely right
As a human descendant.”
The Art of Forgetfulness and Acceptance
In Yemersat Tibeb (The Art of Forgetfulness), Dibe addresses human frailty—how we hurt and betray each other yet often regret it too late. The poem suggests that forgetfulness, acceptance, and meditation are vital to moving forward in a flawed world. This acceptance is further echoed in Bichegnaw Emnet, which highlights that knowledge or power do not guarantee peace; rather, surrender and letting go lead to tranquility:
“The guarantee of
life,
The key word to interpret mystery,
Is having the gut to say ‘let it be’.”
Celebrating Friendship and Beauty
The poetic dialogue in Eneho and Meba warmly recalls better days of companionship and artistic admiration, a calm refuge from conflict and sorrow. It flows naturally into Aynm Aytegbm Wubetm Ayalkm, where the beauty and allure of women take center stage in a playful, reflective manner, underscoring the universal tension between temptation and loyalty.
The Silence of Lost Love
The poignant Mulu Kutr Zero narrates a love story that dissolves in silence. The protagonists’ inability to express their feelings leads to loss, evoking a sense of regret and inevitability. This theme extends to Helawe (Reality), which reflects on waiting as an inherent part of life — whether waiting for love, truth, or death:
“We always hold a
certain reality
Waiting remains life’s eternal irony.”
Value in the Smallest Things
One of the collection’s most powerful messages emerges in Yehelewna Tinsh Yelewm (Every Little Thing Holds Worth). Dibe elegantly portrays the significance of even the smallest elements in life: a blade of grass, a clipped nail, or a drop of water. These minute details sustain larger processes and lives. The poem concludes with the democratic idea that everyone is “lord in their own world,” emphasizing dignity at every level.
Honoring Ordinary Lives
In Tertaw Tarik (Life in the Ordinary), Dibe celebrates the unsung masses — ordinary people who find joy and meaning in their humble lives. Their simple huts become palaces, and their daily rituals form the backbone of society. Their voices, songs, and stories deserve recognition, and Dibe crafts this poem as an anthem for their quiet strength and resilience.
Social Critique and Collective Memory
Dibe’s awareness of societal flaws shines in Solomon Deresa, a tribute to the late poet and critic who warned against repeating historical mistakes. The subtitle Timirun Ayleyum (They Won’t Learn) conveys a somber judgment on society’s stubbornness. This skepticism towards social progress continues in Kuankua Kirets Learmimo, where Dibe opts for silence over futile teaching.
Acceptance, Fate, and National Identity
In later poems like Jerba Engda, Yeafer Digis, and Moten Belechew Limut, the poet adopts a tone of calm acceptance. Life’s unpredictability and fate are embraced rather than resisted. This philosophical resignation coexists with national themes in Adwa Kine New (Adwa Is Ours), Agapen Teshagro (The Dawn Has Come), and Infinity, which broaden the scope from the personal to the patriotic.
Final Reflections
“Sew Eskale Dres” is a masterful, layered work that invites readers to consider life’s fleeting moments, the beauty of ordinary existence, and the universal experiences of love, loss, and hope. Dibekulu Geta’s poetic voice is at once reflective, sincere, and imbued with a deep sense of cultural identity. Through innovative structure, vivid imagery, and thoughtful themes, the collection becomes more than poetry—it is a meditation on the human condition.
For those seeking a literary window into contemporary Ethiopia’s soul, Sew Eskale Dres offers both insight and solace, reminding us all that life, despite its imperfections, is worth embracing fully.
Price: 297 ETB / $20
Pages: 116
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