REMARKABLE SÔNIA (Tribute to Mrs. Sônia Altomar)

Adama Konate is an African poet. (konate.adama88@yahoo.fr)

He's 30 years old.
Last august, he came from Mali, Africa, to live, work and study in São Paulo, Brazil.
He currently lives in Arsenal da Esperança (http://arsenalesperanca.blogspot.com.br/)
While on Mali, he graduated in Accounting Sciences,
with a postgraduation, also.

Now he's learning Portuguese in our students class.

Adama is on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/adama.konate.3591?fref=ts

He wrote this poem, REMARKABLE SÔNIA, in honor of Mrs. Sônia Altomar, teacher and principal of the school for homeless people “Centro Social Caminho Novo”, rua Almeida Lima, 900 – Mooca, São Paulo, Brazil. (phone 55 11 2693-8353).

REMARKABLE SÔNIA

(Tribute to Mrs. Sônia Altomar)

“The full moon that illuminates all

A fountain in the desert, along the road

To all the people who are thirsty.

The woman who is the mother of everyone

The world is a hard place

But solidarity makes things easier.

Heaven and Earth were born out of Love

The Hope of the fish is the water

The Hope of the hunting is the forest

The Hope of the bird is the tree

The Hope of the entire world is God

The hope of this poet is the mother of the world, Sônia

The woman who encourages everyone to go to school

Whose word blurs, but the Writing stays

The mango tree always gives good fruits (mangoes)

The offering is priceless, and has no limit

Without solidarity, the world would be a dry river

Oh good Sonia, patient and perfect, that brings us water to drink

Oh good Sonia, sensible and patriotic,

Who works for everyone

Oh good Sônia, friend of the black people

Oh good Sônia, adviser of God’s ways

The white child and the black child will remember Sonia

The hand that God held, will never fall

The small trees stay under the shade

Of a King Tree

The small rain stops a great wind

Long live and health will prevail

In Sônia’s life

All the residents of Arsenal da Esperança, africans, haitians, and others

Will not forget the good teacher, Sônia Altomar

The tan-tans of Africa in the world will sound your name.

The birds of the different continents will sing

Praise of your good deeds

All of the people of Arsenal da Esperança would like  

To thank you a lot for this school

I really thank you, smiling pedagogue

May Peace and wealth reign in your family

May the eyes of the world respect you

May your life be sweet

May the desire of the educator Sônia be accepted

by God the almighty

Tomorrow, a child will bring you water to drink

Under the cool shade of a great tree!"

Poet: the black child from Mali,

Adama Konate

São Paulo, October 11 , 2012