The Escape from Santa Comba Dão

In the sonnet "The Escape from Santa Comba Dão", I relive one of the most remarkable experiences of my life: the forced flight from my hometown amidst the chaos of war. I vividly remember the fear I felt as I watched my peaceful land become engulfed in violence and destruction. With my family, we joined forces to escape and seek safety, leaving behind everything we knew and loved.

At that dawn in Santa Comba Dão,
I witnessed the horror of an invasion,
The city, once calm, without reason,
Was plunged into war and distress.

Screams and bombs, shots on the ground,
People fleeing, gripped by tension,
My family united in decision,
To flee death, to seek salvation.

We escaped along secondary roads,
Leaving our land, our homes,
In search of refuge we walked.

We arrived in Huambo with hope,
The Red Cross gave us new wings,
And to Portugal we flew in dances.

This painful escape taught me the importance of unity and courage in times of crisis. Even in the midst of despair, we find hope and a new lease on life. Reflecting on this experience, I see how it shaped my resilience and my ability to face adversity, always seeking a new beginning, even when all seemed lost.