Obdede (Eddy) Gaspar

Obdede (Eddy) Gaspar his poem and self-portrait are included in the soon-to-be-published anthology Our Beautiful Homelands: As Told in Self-Portraits by Global Youth which has come to fruition this year from the work of IPM Poetry Partner Merna Ann Hecht.

I am from the Continent of Africa

from the African country of Angola,

from the black people of my good country

with the good food like fumbua.

I am from a country where everywhere is beautiful,

I am from this forest in the center and the north

where you can find the giant Palanca Negra

the most special animal in the world,

only found in my country and at risk for extinction,

and also you can-see the elephants.

I am missing my friends and the places we used to go,

I am from missing everything about my brothers and father

and from missing all of my father's advice,

the only thing to help missing them is to see them in person.

I am from my desire to be able to travel to many countries

and my desire to go to these places.

— Obede (Eddy) Gaspar from ‘Where I Am From’