Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Biography of a Refugee


Biography of a Refugee



Running, running everywhere
From here to there to nowhere
Running night and day
Without knowing
Where to go, where to stay

A displaced, dispossessed refugee
Must flee war and hide
Deprived of home and identity
Must keep going
Looking for a safe shelter
And a new homeland

Holding hand in hand
Young and old are walking
One eye on the road ahead
The other on what left behind

Moving from cave to cave
Valley to valley
Camp to camp
Across mountains of snow
And oceans of mud and sand
Bodies are tired
Eyes are tired
And souls are sad

He lived in the East and West
In the North and South
In large crowded cities
Modern vibrant towns
Charming old villages
Sleepy hamlets tucked in mountains
On a little lake with imported sand
Loosing childhood innocence
And missing friends left behind

Flying in planes
Riding on trains
Sailing on boats and ships
Driving sporty cars
He traveled from land to land
Feeling at times happy
But often deeply sad

Unable to regain peace of mind
He kept searching for new people
Open minded and kind
To listen to his agonizing story
Give him another chance
To rebuild his shattered life
Free his children from fear and need
And tortured memories that bind

Now, the body is getting exhausted
It can no longer enjoy the ride
The brain is feeling the pressure
To keep records of a twisted journey
Colored with agony and pride
Before memories get too old
And are buried deep in sand

The soul is getting angry
Unable to accept or understand
Why it should live forever stranger
Wherever it may go or land

Soon the body will die
In silence without a whisper or cry
It does not matter how or where
Strangers have no right to question fate
Even when the question is fair

Worms will multiply eating the flesh
Transforming it into natural fertilizer
To enrich the soil of abandoned fields
So wild flowers could grow and bloom
And the sunflower shines like a little moon

The soul will resume wandering
Traveling with dignity and pride
Flying across turbulent oceans
And serene dunes of sand
Promoting peace and freedom
Justice and human rights
The sharing of love
And love of the land

Blessing the good
Forgiving the bad
Unifying people across religions and races
Building brick by brick
Land after land
A dream the body never had
A happy, peaceful living
In a shared homeland

Mohamed Rabie


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