The men, the women, the children walk
In a line, on the side of the dusty track.
Feet scraping, shoulders hunched, in silence, no talk.
Left, right, left, right, left, right, there’s no going back.
Some carry their lives in bundles, on their heads, their backs or hanging by their side,
Under the burden of memories, others carry themselves from falling to the ground.
Their shadows spill around them, forming dark puddles where they collide
Left right, left right, left, there’s no turning around.
They are like soldiers, they are martyrs, each one an exile,
Marching in suits starched with mud, others with dresses torn.
Feet hurting, cuts in skin that is still fragile.
Left, right, left, right, it’s behind, a cause forlorn.
Where are they to go?
Left, right, left, no rhythm in their feet.
The eyes of the world are on them, what do they have to show?
Left, right. Maybe one day they will be back, they are not yet beat.
Nas - (March 2011)
This poem I wrote after a 3 year drought of poem writing and so thought I’d share it with you.
*****
“Most of the patients here,” she said. “Suffer from terminal illnesses and disease. Many have been told they have limited time to live.” It was another day at the hospice training. And we were having a group discussion. “I want you all to get into pairs and threes if needed, and discuss what you would do if you were told you had a short amount of time to live?” I ask you that question,
What would you do if you were told you would die soon?
“It’s important because many of us never think about it. And I think we should ask it because it reminds us of our mortality.” She said after the discussion.
*****
Many people in the Middle East, in New Zealand, in Japan, were forced to ask themselves this question. There are people living today, who have the shadow of death hanging over their shoulder and they just do not know when their counter will stop counting. We’ve all heard and seen pictures of the death, the destruction, the suffering those people are going through. We’ve all heard the stories of poverty and persecution some people are a victim of each day of their lives.
When you jump into bed tonight, just spare a minute for those people, who do not have a bed in which to to sleep. Think of those people who will be resting their head amid the sound of gun fire. Think of those people who will be cuddling up against rubble. Think of the elderly, the children, the sick, the injured. Think of those that have lost brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters and friends. Think of them and say a prayer.
Please do give generously to those charitable organisations that are providing aid to those in need to the best of your ability.
________________________________
Title: Better Days – Goo Goo Dolls
Picture 1, showing a girl walking with a bag through rubble taken from here.
Picture 2, showing a woman prisoner taken from here.
Picture 3, showing a frail man laying taken from here.
Posts
19 March 2011 at 22:53
LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THE POEM!!! Mash'Allah <3
Jazaka Allahu khairan for this post...may Allah bless you!
have an awesome weekend! :)
Fi amaaniAllah
19 March 2011 at 23:02
@ Zαìήαβ: Jazakallah for the kind words!
And you too. May you have an awesome weekend too insha'Allah.
Wasalaam.
:)
19 March 2011 at 23:04
Peaceful greetings Nas,
My friend, your wise and profound words, your poetic prose, is testimony to your compassion and heartfelt caring for the awful plight of those who are going through such devastating times.
Yes, my friend, we must spare a thought, say our prayers to whatever we believe in and speak more than just words, but take positive action to make this a better world for our children and our children's children.
In peace and hope to you, to all of us, Gary.
19 March 2011 at 23:06
ooh I think I've already told you that I heart this poem <3
way talented you are, init?
hmm I have questioned my own mortality many times & I'm not afraid. Personally I think its even harder when people are told how long they have to live. I'd rather not know & live the last days in ignorance.
x
20 March 2011 at 00:10
Loveely poem [you already know]
and the post is great too! We all need to take a moment from our busy lives and respect the lives lost.
Thanks for sharing! =] x
20 March 2011 at 11:22
I'd just cry since it's something I've never been able to do. Achieve something before you die, they say.
And I'd like to tell a few people how much they really matter to me even if I've been an asshole enough never to let it through. Too clichéd perhaps.
ps: I can't remember the last time I gave something away to charity.
20 March 2011 at 14:19
Hey Nas
I really enjoyed the poem and appreciated being able to take a sneak preview of it on Friday.
The General
20 March 2011 at 20:43
You already know my thoughts on your lovely poem :) [do you remember that scene in Matilda when the kids recite that Mrs D poem?]
x
22 March 2011 at 00:31
What would I do If I were told that I would die soon?
Hmm.. I'm not quite sure. Maybe I would enjoy my life.. go to places I've never been yet, do the things i Haven't done yet... But after all of those, maybe I'd just spend my last remaining time with my loved ones.
True. Most people take the small things for granted. We should be thankful for every little thing. Everything has a purpose.
I remember eating in a restaurant. I was only 12 or 13, maybe. I was so full, I have left overs in my plate. Dad told me to eat it all up. Because there are so many children in the world who have died of hunger, and there I was, wasting precious food. Left-overs.. yes. But I understood Dad's point. There are lots of little things that oftentimes we take for granted.. like left-overs on a plate, pillows on a bed.. You're totally right.
Sometimes, I feel like I carry the most heavy load on my shoulders.. like I have the most difficult problem. That's just me being selfish... Because there are lots of unfortunate folks who have it worse.. yet, they're still surviving. With everything that is happening to the world... calamities, war, etc.. let's us offer a prayer.
I can't remember the last time I gave to some charity or institution. Though I remember giving help to some woman while I was on my Manila trip last month. It wasn't much.. but it was help.
P.S.
The poem is very nice... LOVELY. :)
22 March 2011 at 13:05
@ klahanie: Thank you for your lovely and hitting comment. :).
22 March 2011 at 13:07
@ Humpty Dumpty: Why thank you. :).
I think it varies from person to person.
22 March 2011 at 13:07
@ Yours Truly: Thanks! And yes, we should. :)
x
22 March 2011 at 13:08
@ AcetylCholine: I think most people would want to achieve something.
You can always change that ;).
22 March 2011 at 13:09
@ The General: :D. You finally left a comment. What happened to the name you said you were going to use on Friday?
Thanks for visiting man :)
22 March 2011 at 13:10
@ Smiley: :). Lol Mrs D, Mrs I, Mrs F,F,I, Mrs C, Mrs U, Mrs L,T,Y? That one? ;)
x
22 March 2011 at 13:14
@ Leah: You're right, we all think we carry heavy burdens. But I think it is okay to feel down from time to time. Think of it this way. You have a builder, strongly built and used to hard labour. On the other hand you have a teacher, who wears dresses and marks exercise books. The most exercised muscles are probably in her throat from all the shouting she has to do.
Now imagine giving a heavy load to the builder to carry, he may have difficultly but he can manage. But the teacher, who has never done such work will have a lot more problems.
The same with life I think :).
But you're right, we should be more grateful, and less hateful of life.
Thanks! :)
23 March 2011 at 11:44
Loved the poem =)
If i knew I were to die soon.. I think I'd freak out and cry quite a bit =| but then it'd settle in, and I'd 'try' to enjoy the rest of my life. Guess its a blessing when we don't know about it =|
Most of the world is in shambles.. we think think about it, feel bad and then we forget =/
Great post
23 March 2011 at 19:36
Touching =') we all need to be reminded of our mortality every once in a while, true that. Poem achee hai.
If I were to die soon, I'd cry, stay and tell everyone close to me I love them, and pray. =)
And while I'm alive, I want to give all I have to the world to make it a better place - the best of which is knowledge.
Great post.
God takes care of all of us. And He loves those who care about his people and creation.
x