In a place called Lampedusa, where souls unite,
Voices, faces, and stories, shining lights,
Summoned by compassion, justice, and human right,
We stand together, courageous in our fight.
Alessandro, a beacon of light,
An ambassador, guiding us right.
With umbrella of commitment, he led,
With reverence and respect, respect in this noble space, we tread.
Matteo, youth’s energy ablaze,
Curiosity burning, truth’s maze.
Seeking inclusivity’s embrace,
To give a better life, he’d chase.
Mohammed, from Sahel’s land oppressed,
Fighting ceaselessly, he’s not one to rest.
In occupied lands, his people’s plight,
For justice, he battles with all his might.
Iustina, a force campaigning for years,
To free Patrick Zaki from silence’s fears. An angel, her heart pure,
Four years of dedication she gave,
Until his release, her strength she’d brave.
Rachele, born of Eritrean descent,
Humanitarian spirit, she’s sent.
Strong and dedicated to all she meets,
Her compassion knows no bounds or feats.
Nour, defying Egypt’s regime,
Imprisonment and death, a haunting dream.
Yet he stands tall for refugees’ right,
His wisdom shines in the darkest night.
Sofia, a young flower, forever bloom,
At fifteen, she founded youth’s amnesty room.
Years dedicated to the cause she loves,
Sowing seeds of change, like gentle doves.
Lidia, with eyes searching for her passion,
Journalism her tool, crossing each nation.
Seeing beyond borders, building bounds,
Her words unite, where division compounds.
Tiziano, a hope from Berlin’s heart,
Fighting injustice, a noble part.
With revolutionary ideas held high,
Uniting the world, he aims to try.
Francesca, derived from socialist love,
Building the funds, like wings of a dove.
Treasure in her hands, amnesty’s gold,
Her generosity, a story to be told.
Angela, amplifying voices, representing with care,
Standing tall beside Alessandro, a dynamic pair,
Ester, a mother to all voyagers, kind and true,
Guiding our journey, our hopes she grew, Without her, reaching the summer lab would not be in sight.
And I, from South Sudan’s tumultuous strife,
Defied death, defied darkness, rebuilding my life,
Surrounded by these incredible souls, I stand,
Amplifying neglected voices, lending a helping hand.
But there’s one thing I cannot defy,
The nightmares that haunt, the scars that won’t die,
My bleeding soul, burdened by what I’ve seen,
A reminder of the pain, where hope has been.
In the summer lab, people from all lands unite,
Harmony prevailing, injustice we fight,
My heart weeps, it bleeds with relief and sadness,
As I bid farewell to the island, the moments of gladness tightly bound.
Together we dined, we partied, we shared,
Unexpectedly met comrades who once cared.
In Libya, we protested, demanding our rights,
Justice, accountability in the darkest nights. But denial was our fate, a battle we fought, yet we resisted, scattered across lands, longing to be free.
Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria they fled,
While nature sailed me to Italy instead.
Our meeting, a blend of sorrow and delight,
Thinking of thousands still trapped in the fight.
Frontex arrival, a sorrowful aftermath, our longing cut short,
With a heartfelt “Vale,” we bid them support.
Lampedusa, this island of profound grace,
Holds more than words can ever embrace,
Forever in our hearts, its memory will reside.
YAMBIO DAVID 