Boom! Boom! Boom! Afghanistan’s morning
Alarm clock rings
But my mind is tired today
I want to sleep and dream
About a peaceful country
A place where
we don’t need to fight for human rights
we don’t need to fight for peace
we don’t need to fight for women and children
all our rights are maintained
Still my soul is like a caged bird
I see this beautiful world only in my morning dream
Boom! I awaken
I am alive
I breathe
I do not fear death
My soul tells me to fight
My thoughts say I am here to save your rights
The strength and spirit within my body urge
Me to stand without fear
To fight for your rights
The words in my mouth say speak until they listen
Say no to insurgents, to their cowardly inhuman attacks
Boom! I feel alive
For those who trust me
For those who count on me
For those who wait for me
For those who still believe there is someone to help them
I am awake
I will stand like a wall
You will not be able to even touch me
By Maryam M.
Dear Maryam,
Your poem surprised me. I never thought of an alarm clock as a Boom sound. Well done! Like you, sometimes I want to live in a different world. But this world is where we are. I love your hopeful defiant ending.
This poem! It begs to be read aloud – boom! Boom! May we all feel this call to life, this call to doing all that must be done to leave this world better than we found it. The energy, power in this poem is palpable–alive. Well done! Stacy
Your poem really made me think, Maryam. I wonder even if societies that hold peace and human rights dear need to fight for them….and o think the answer is yes, they do.
Maryam, I am amazed by your strong and beautiful poem. So many lines that literally shout at the reader and demand attention! I love the repetition of the Boom! And the last lines are so powerful!!! Thank you for writing. –Pat
Maryam — The repetition of the “Boom!” in your poem is surprising and literally woke me up and made me think more deeply about what life is like where you are. I love the strong, determined voice in this that vows to keep on and win. Beautiful work! Nancy