Muhammad Iqbal is an English Instructor in Government Vocational Training Institute Narowal, Pakistan working for poverty alleviation and rehabilitation of the poor in Punjab. Holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature from Punjab University Lahore, Bachelor of Education and a Certificate in French. Writes poetry in Urdu, Punjabi, Persian and English. After the earthquake in Pakistan started to write poetry for humanising children because he felt the world direly needs humanistic generations when disasters are increasing double and triple in the world.
E-mail: muhammadiqbal722@hotmail.com

Background

I would like to share with you one of my poems (recently created) showing how African mothers handle drinking water problems for their thirsty children when they ask them for water. The study shows that African mothers usually have to travel 10 miles for getting water for their children( Developments -DFID)

The poem can be used in the class for speaking and listening activities. Speaking and Listening is a different matter. How native speakers make word short and change words when they speak, for example ten per cent changes into ‘tem’ per cent, sandwich becomes ‘sanwich’ and water remains only ‘wa’ and similarly mama as ‘ma’ (ESOL newsletter- Sheila Thorn, my favourite listening skill scholar)

The poem

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Tem miles go o' sand
With thy sweet hand
Bring me some wa
Oh, my grandma
Thirsty, I call ye
Say me with love'pee'


NB:- Pee is a Punjabean word for drink