| |
From the Mouth Of a Lebanese Child
I'm scared to close my eyes tonight
I ask my mom to hold me tight
To tell me it will be alright,
and rock me close till morning light
I hear my auntie start to cry,
and no one wants to tell me why
my uncle's gone without goodbye
I wonder what it's like to die
I miss my home, and my best friend
She said this war was going to end
that other countries would defend
Perhaps she's playing just pretend
My mom said now she's on a plane
I'm glad she's not here in this rain,
or wounded and in awful pain
Iike those of us who must remain
I try to block the noise to sleep,
while thinking our lives must be cheap
I pray to God our souls to keep
To calm the fear that's running deep
I'm splashing in a little stream,
but why do I hear mother scream?
The blasts are real and not a dream!
Oh, God! This is the end it seems.
Eileen Manassian Ghali
October 5, 2024
Beirut, Lebanon
Copyright ©
Eileen Manassian
|