Wednesday, December 30, 2009

The Friendly Letter

88 Insanity Road
Isa Town, Bahrain

Nov 30th, 1999

Dear Rabab & Mariam,

Hi, how are you? I’m fine. I went to the carnival with some friends, but I didn’t win anything! I’m proud because last time I went to tennis and played well. What have you done so far? Anything exciting? I’m sure you were busy with the play. So was I. I hope I was good.
Did you like the carnival? I am very busy with homework and projects. You’re lucky you’re in third grade. Did you win any prizes at the carnival? I didn’t. I saw you a lot in the past few days. I’m excited about Ramadan! Are you guys excited, and are you going to fast?
I live in West Rifaa, in front of the National Stadium. My house is two minutes away from school, I could go walking. I’m looking forward for the rest of The Westing Game. I am way ahead of you since it’s my REP novel. Where do you live? Did you like The Westing Game so far? You know this is our last letter. I’ll be seeing you soon.

Love,
Samar
Grade 6A

Monday, December 28, 2009

Romeo and Juliet Cont...

Act II is probably even more confusing than Act I. Most of the scenes we read so far were confusing especially when Mercutio and Romeo were talking. But after Mrs M. explained it, I understood. I wouldn’t have figured out what was going on. The balcony scene was understandable though.
I think the best thing to do is to discuss what happened after each act, or after a particular part in a scene.

Samar Al ANSARI
GRADE 9.2
11/11/ 2002

Saturday, December 26, 2009

What can I do to help save the world?

I can save the world by recycling paper, glass, plastic, and shopping bags. I can recycle paper by using used paper to draw on or make paper planes out of it. We can recycle glass by crushing and melting it and using it to make bottles again. I can recycle shopping bags by using them over again. If I see trash on the floor I should pick it up and make my country cleaner.

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 5D
Dec7, 1998

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Hello from Heaven

Beloved Mother, as you fly
today in the sky up high
You’ll feel my presence
no need to ask how or why
I’m here to comfort you
as you’ll miss me and cry
And shed your tears
of them, you never shy
But, look at the window
and your eyes will surely dry
As I come with the sunrise
to greet you as you fly
And embrace you
with my love from the sky
A warm hello from heaven
mother I didn’t die
Speak to me! I can hear
even if I don’t reply
As between you and me
there is never a good-bye

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Written in loving memory of my daughter,
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari

Sunday, December 20, 2009

So They Say

It should be getting easier I often hear you say
The time is passing quickly since your son went away
It must be getting better as I see you smile a lot
And time is such a healer
So they say!

Life must be feeling normal now
Although I know it takes a little time
But when I lost someone a year later I was fine
Oh yee, I cried on birthdays you know the kind of thing
A tear or two and sadness
But time is such a healer
So they say!

It’s lovely to remember them with smiles you say
And all those memories will help take the pain away
I cannot even go there if I do I know I’ll die
You seem surprised at thoughts like that
You think I’ve lost my mind
You say that time’s a healer
So they say!

Well it isn’t getting easier I’d like you all to hear
Life is just as painful with every passing year
But I’ve had a lot of training and my aching skills are great
I could beat an Oscar hopeful any day!
You stare at me in wonder
How can she feel such pain
After all time is such a healer
So they say!

Sue White 2006 Copyright ©

Friday, December 18, 2009

Bahrain’s people and voices

Bahrain’s people are Bahraini and in Bahrain there are a lot of foreigners and very kind good-hearted people. Bahrain’s cultures are making vases and other stuff from pottery. Bahrain was known for a long time as being the “Island of the Million Trees”. Bahrain catches fish and before they used to dive for pearls. Bahrain has many voices saying “I love you, Bahrain, you’re the best!”

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 5D
Dec14, 1998

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Why is Bahrain special?

Bahrain is special because it is known for having a lot of palm trees and dates. Bahrain is special because they are known with diving for pearls and catching fish. Bahrain is special because they are known for making vases and other stuff using pottery. But, I don’t care about those things. Bahrain is special to me because it’s my country, my home, and my life.

Samar Al Ansari
Grade 5D
Dec 5, 1998

Monday, December 14, 2009

أخي

أخي، ضمني إلى صدرك لأبكي عليه
وأقص له مما أعاني وأشكو إليه

أختك تعبت من الحزن وألم الفراق
وقلبها ينزف دما ودوما مشتاق

أختك لم تعد كما بالأمس تعهدها
فالأسى أدمى قلبها وعينيها و كبدها

من حبك وحب الأهل تستمد قوتها
ومن محبة الأصدقاء الذين برفقتها

ألمي يا أخي كبير كصخرة أحملها
وللحزن أثر على جبهتي يكللها

ابنتي عند الرحمن، هذا ما أعرفه
و مصابي الجلل، لن تقوى أن تخففه

بنظرة منك يا أخي تعرف ما أربد
فهل هناك حل يا صاحب العقل الرشيد؟

صابرة أنا، لكن قلبي ليس من جليد
ففراق الحبيبة جعل الحزن يسري بالوريد

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

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Piggy's Diary

Objective: Write a journal entry looking at the incident in the point of view of the character; it should fully capture the character’s voice.

I need him to be strong. His strength will keep us together, but sadly he is crumbling, and so are we. Ralph, God bless him, thinks with his heart, and not with his mind, and that is weakening him. He needs to think of the future, and not dwell on the past. The past is painful; Simon’s death was…an accident. So young and killed so brutally…NO, I mustn’t think like this! I need to put this behind me, we all do. It was an accident, people make mistakes. We just need to learn from our mistakes, that’s all. Maybe Simon was pretending to be the beast and people fell for it? Yeah, that’s probably true. We’re all civilized here, we got the conch.
If Ralph just blew on that conch, I know that it will bring the two groups closer together. I would do it myself, but no one seems to care when I got the conch. I have a right to speak damn it! Maybe if people listened to me, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in now. Nobody listens to me, except Ralph. Ralph cares for me, I can tell. I care for him too, for he has a kind heart. He is strong as long as he has support, and when he lost his support, he lost his strength. But he’s got the conch, if he just used it, he would get support. The conch is all he needs, the conch is the only thing that Jack and his savages don’t have. Ralph has been like a father to most of the littulns, and it’s clear that he needs a father like figure of his own. I saw the way he rocked to and fro like a child, and the way he cradled that rock; he needs someone. I tried to be that someone, but he pushed my hand away. He thinks he doesn’t need me.
He came to me flushed and referred to Simon’s death as murder. It wasn’t murder, it couldn’t be murder. How can murder happen on the island while we still got the conch? It was an accident, it has to be. It was a mistake, a tragic mistake nevertheless. He needs to forget about it, he needs to stop thinking about it, like I did. What good will it do us if we think about the murder, I mean death, of our poor friend Simon? He needs to forget and come up with a way to prevent another death. The others are in desperate need of order, and need some sort of guidelines. No one should worry about me, I can set up rules for myself. If he just called an assembly, I know people would come. But when I mentioned it to him, he laughed in my face. I know he is hiding his fear with laughter, we all do, but reestablishing order is not a laughing matter. I know that if he just blew that conch, somehow it would all be better. If he blew that conch, everything would be normal again, not as normal as our past lives, but as normal as it gets on this island.
Oh, how I miss my past life. I miss my auntie, she cares. No one cares about my asthma, not even Ralph. I know that if my Auntie was here, she would care. She would pamper me, and let me rest, because I matter to her. I don’t think I matter to anyone here, and it hurts. I have never been anywhere where I haven’t been loved or liked. Back home, I was loved by my Auntie, but not necessarily liked by the neighborhood kids, but that was okay, as long as I had my Auntie’s love. I need someone to acknowledge my importance here; I mean if it wasn’t for my glasses, the fire would’ve never been lit. Urgh, why am I thinking about this now, I shouldn’t think of things that disturb me. I need to remain strong, if not for my sake, for Ralph’s. Ralph needs me more than he thinks he does.
Piggy

By Samar Al Ansari
Grade 11.5
Sep. 27, ‘04

Thursday, December 10, 2009

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

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Sunday, December 06, 2009

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

Friday, December 04, 2009

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©
Written in loving memory of my daughter,
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

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)