ANTHOLOGY OF POETRY 

BY MAWUTODZI KODZO ABISSATH 

a.k.a Mawu

Poem1

NETHERLANDS-LAND OF LEARNERS

Oh, Netherlands!

You are the Land of Learners

From the Land of Africa I hail

To the Land of Asia I sail

For the Land of America,

I am yet to Unveil

One  Land of Europe –

Belle France, I know

But you, Netherlands

You are the Land of Learners!

Oh, Netherlands!

You are the land of Learners

The Land of Global Homage

 The Land of Global Justice

 The Land of Global Peace

The Land of Global Freedom

The Land of Global Wisdom!

Oh, Netherlands!

You are the Land of Learners

 Global destiny of humanity

Lies in your global Hands

For global prosperity

God Bless your Land!

M. K. Abissath

MA Student (AES)

 Ghana

Amsterdam, 17/10/2013

• Dedicated To The Netherlands

(Inspired by the Greenery Beauty of

The Amsterdam Airport

Composed in Airborne  

 Before Landing

On 17 October, 2013

Poem 2

OUR DIAGNOSTIC KINGDOM

Disciples of development icon we are

Gurus of wisdom are our professors

Our monastery, ISS is located 

In the bosom of The Hague

The home of global learners’ league

To a degree of 99 3/4 centigrade 

Is our academic temperature

Our feeble feet are being trained

To attain a Diagnostic Kingdom

Within our sanctum spreads an atrium

Wherein rests a ladder of diagnostic tests

That which each initiate has an obligation 

To soar to conquer the Diagnostic Kingdom

As you ascend your eyes are nourished with

ILS Diagnostic Test

Planning Diagnostic Test

 AC Diagnostic Test

ECDL diagnostic Test

Numeracy Diagnostic Test

Plagiarism Diagnostic Quiz 

And what have you diagnostic test!

Diagnostic experience of scholarship

Upon attainment of their mastership

Disciples must not abandon in life

The concept of diagnostic test as strife       

Rather Academic Diagnostic Tests

Must link Domestic Diagnostic Tests

With particular premium

On romantic diagnostic test!

M. K. Abissath

MA Student AES

The Hague, 03/12/13

Ghana

Dedicated to ISS Students

Poem3

THE 21^ST CENTURY JOURNALISM

Information Communication Technology

You’re the mother of 21^st Century journalism

 Your own birth altered man’s idiosyncrasy

From archaeology to zoology

You converted our sphere into a global colony

You changed our act from birth to death

Journalism – a trade still in transition

 From initial traditional   journalism

It was baptized modern journalism

Then E-journalism

Then cyber journalism

Then ICT journalism 

Then on-line journalism

Today its data journalism

That’s locomotive journalism

To chart  and graph journalism

What next journalism

Shall we know you to be?

Oh 21^st Century journalism

Are you a profession in infinity?

 M. K. Abissath

MA Student (AES)

The Hague, 06/12/2013

Poem4

THE ACADEMIC
 FREEDOM

The Universe rules 

By universal laws

Nature by natural laws

Science by scientific laws

Politics by political laws

Economy by economic laws

Ecology by ecological laws

The Academia must rule 

 By measured academic laws

To instill some discipline

But not too harsh to hatch

Academic chickens

But academic eagles

To sustain the struggle

 M.K. Abissath

The Hague, 12/12 2013

Poem5

THE HOLISTIC 
SOVEREIGNTY

Food to Foot Sovereignty

Is Holistic Sovereignty

 Holistic Sovereignty

Is capsule Sovereignty,

Food Sovereignty 

Water Sovereignty

Meat Sovereignty

Fish Sovereignty

Plant Sovereignty

Head Sovereignty

Eye Sovereignty

Ear Sovereignty

Nose Sovereignty

Mouth Sovereignty

Neck Sovereignty

Chest Sovereignty

Stomach Sovereignty

Arms Sovereignty

Thigh Sovereignty

Knee Sovereignty

Leg Sovereignty

Foot Sovereignty!

 M.K. Abissath (Mawu)

MA Student ISS (AES)

Ghana

The Hague 22/12 2013

Dedicated to 24 January 2014

Food Sovereignty Conference

At ISS, The Hague, the Netherlands

Poem6

THE SERAPHIM OF ISS

Oh, Seraphim of ISS!

Yes, yes! Aren’t you

The Seraphim of ISS?

You are the fertile soil

And the rock of his toil

In your loving hands

The missing seed lands

You’re the touch-bearer

The path illuminator

As your light sparkles

Your life shines

Your love blossoms

Oh, Seraphim of ISS

You’re the cherubim

Of our kingdom

Be the bosom

Of our wisdom!

M.K. Abissath (Mawu) Ghana

MA Student ISS (AES)

The Hague, 21/12/2013

Dedicated to all women of ISS

From the Deputy Rector to

Front-desk officers

For their natural sense of molding

ISS into shape like a potter since 1952

Note: These poems were written between October 17 and December 22, 2013 when I came to The Hague, The Netherlands to start my Master of Arts Degree Program in Development Studies at the ISS/Erasmus University Rotterdam 2013 – 2014. Most of the poems were inspired by academic activities at ISS - the Professors’ depth of knowledge and the spectacular leadership role of women in the governance of the School. The humility of ISS authorities is beyond compare. I had the honour and privilege to be granted an interview by the Rector himself in less than two months of my student’s life at this school. ISS is a “Global Centre - par –Excellent” in Development Studies. I hope to contribute my token imagination to elevating its international image to even a higher pedestal in years ahead.  

Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

23 December, 2013.

Reciting Poem No. 1 on the occasion of the International Day at ISS during Cultural Night full of music, dance, drama and poetry on November 23, 2013, The Hague, The Netherlands