After

From now on

my life holds

a before

and after.

My before life

is known,

is held by memory,

encompassing

all the darks and lights,

blues and golds,

of life before. After.

Only my strength,

courage, faith,

and God's key,

can unlock the mystery

of after.

by Genesse Bordeau Gentry, 2009 ,Copyright©

Catching the Light

Samar's Drawings

If I ruled the world this is what I would change

These are the things I would change if I ruled the world:

I would change the days we go to school, I think school is important but I would let people go to school twice a week. I would change that there would be no wars anymore. I would change that there will be no more orphanages in the world, and that every orphan has a home, and that if every parent who abandons his child has to pay a fine. I would change the pollution in the earth by recycling, and I would let everybody have a car that uses water.

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 5D
Dec 8th, 1998

Please, Mother, Don't Cry

Please, Mother, Don't Cry
When you miss me, look at the sky
You'll find me shining with the stars up high
When the sun rises and sets, I greet you with a hello or hi
And with the birds I send you messages as they fly
Each morning I hug you and kiss each eye

Please, Mother, Don't Cry
I 'm with you, a fact that no one can deny
You'll smell me in a rose or jasmine that you buy
And you'll hear me in a song or a lullaby
And see me in the faces of any girl or guy
Smile, Mother. I am free now like a butterfly

Please, Mother, Don't Cry
Your face has changed, I can hardly identify
You've withered. I don't need to ask why
You call my name but there is no reply
Happiness is gone, you can't get or buy
Mother, rest assured I 'm with you, by your side I lie

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©

December 2009

وذكراك يا روحي لحن من أجمل الألحان

واسمك أصبح يا سمر يعرف من غير عنوان

يردده الكثيرون بفخر وعز وحب ووجدان

(من قصيدة "عام مضى يا ابنتي الحبيبة سمر)

On Sorrow by Gibran

The bitterest thing in our today's sorrow is the memory of our yesterday's joy.

Sand and Foam

by
Khalil Gibran

أتى العيد

أتى العيد يا ابنتي ولم يجدك
سأل عنك وأخبرني بأنه يفتقدك

أتى يحمل معه أجمل الذكريات
عندما كنت نجمة تنور اللقاءات

واليوم يجتمع الأهل دونك
بعدما كانوا بالأمس يتربصون قدومك

!ليته لم يأت بعدما رحلت
فهل هناك عيد من غيرك أنت؟

رنده ربحي حماده
(أم سمر)
جميع الحقوق محفوظة للمؤلفة© 2009