This poem was written by Kole Bib Mirakaj in July 1947 and published by L’Albanie Libre, under the pseudonym Sokoli. 

The poem is very moving. Kole Bib Mirakaj was a refugee in Rome and at the time he wrote it, his wife Gjina, two sons, Mojs and Leke and extended family, nieces and nephews, were all interned in the prison camp at Tepelene; one of the most horrific camps in Albania’s history, which interned the families of many notable persons who were exiled abroad.

The poem is addressed to his sons. The pain felt by Mirakaj when writing this poem is evident through his words filled with regret and hope. But there is also evidence of the strong love and patriotism he felt for his country, a love which forced him to flee and ensure that the struggle for freedom would continue from abroad, alongside his many close friends and compatriots.

This was the third Easter they spent apart. It is not known whether the family ever saw this poem at the time, most likely not as they were kept isolated from anything outside of their camp, but publishing it in the BKI’s gazette, L’Albanie Libre, was a way to send them a message in the hope that it would make its way to them, as the paper often found its way into Albania through subversive measures. We hope it did.