Season's Greetings

As the year comes to an end,

And everyone has greetings to send,

And reserves a place for the New Year to spend,

I put a smile on my face and pretend

That I am okay, as no one can fully comprehend

My heartache, neither a relative nor friend.

Forgive me, loved ones, I do not mean to offend

But my wounds will never mend

Since my grief and my blood blend.

I wish I could my history amend

And the movement of time suspend

Not having to face another year's end!

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Summer Rays-Solace for Bereaved Parents

Summer Rays: Solace to Bereaved Parents

Go to link:
Summer Rays:Solace to Bereaved Parents by Randah R Hamadeh
A Featured Book in the Open to Hope Foundation

Don't Ask Me

“Remove her pictures
and to her grave don’t go.
Empty her room,
you’ll feel better, I know

Because as long as you cling
to every thing
sadness will always
at your door bell ring.”

Your words
are breaking my heart.
You want me to forget
what of me is a part?

Now my beloved
is closer to me than before
I keep her in my heart
and close the door

Leave me alone
in the way I handle my grief
My heartache
is severe beyond belief


The ultimate loss of a child
is so unique
It will never ease
but makes the parent weak

And the mother’s grief
so profound
It gets deeper and deeper
as the years go round

So please don’t ask me
not to do this or that
But give me a hug
and about her let’s chat

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Summer Rays
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)
(www.samaralansari.com)

You’ll Find Me

Mother, look around you,
you’ll find me…
When you look at the mirror,
you’ll find me…
In the faces of my siblings,
you’ll find me…
When you are with my friends,
you’ll find me…
In the empty seats,
you’ll find me…
When you watch the sunrise,
you’ll find me…
And as the sun sets,
you’ll find me…
As you look at the sea,
you’ll find me…
And in the desert sands,
you’ll find me…
With the beauty of flowers,
you’ll find me…
Mother, wherever you look,
you’ll find me.

Randah R. Hamadeh , Copyright©

Summer Rays, 2009

I Miss You

I cannot forget the look you had
You were so unhappy and sad
What is it that you wanted to say?
Tell me, dear daughter, I pray!

“Mother, I miss you isn't it clear?
I know although I am far and near
Yet I miss throwing myself into your arms
And receiving a kiss that always calms

Although I am happy here above
I want to be with the ones I love
I miss being with my friends
Enjoying every moment, until the day ends

I miss being with my sister and brother
Watching films and laughing with one another
I miss simple things like sipping tea
And watching the sunset by the sea

Do you know now why I was about to cry?
I wish mother I stayed and did not die
I wish that we can turn back in time
For these moments, I would have paid every dime”

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009 Copyright©
Summer Rays, Page 29
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)

My Most Dear

I know you recognize me,
my most dear
When I whisper “I love you”
in your ear
In a soundless voice
that you can hear
And when I wipe from your face
every tear
And steal a kiss so warm
and sincere
To others, I am gone
it might appear
But for you,
to your heart and mind I adhere
Mother, my physical absence
do not fear
I am always with you,
I did not disappear
Although I am very far,
yet I am so near

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Summer Rays, page 85
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari

I’m So Sorry

Beloved Mother,
I’m so sorry
I left you without a good-bye
in a hurry.
Few hours later,
you had a child to bury
and made preparations
for the obituary.
I left you
with a huge burden to carry.
I had to swiftly go,
it was involuntary.
You couldn’t have stopped it,
you needn’t worry.
My day had come.
Mother, I’m so sorry.

Randah R. Hamadeh© 2009 Copyright
Summer Rays
In Loving Memory of My Daughter,
Samar Al Ansari

Summer Rays

Now Available at Jashanmals Bookstores, Bahrain

Note: The proceeds will go to charity in SAMAR's name

It’s So Unfair

I don’t think that it’s fair
To celebrate my birthday
while you’re not there
From life
I already had my own share
I wish, my darling, that yours
I was able to spare
To fulfil your dreams
Some of which I’m aware
What cake should I have?
What dress should I wear?
They make no sense now
As sadness fills the air
How can I survive another year?
I don’t know, I swear
With a broken heart
And your empty chair
Everything around me
Is beyond repair
Sorrow and I
Are now a pair
Life truly is so unfair!

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

Little Bo Peep

I closed my eyes
trying to get some sleep
Unsuccessful
even after I counted all the sheep
And after going over
the memories I treasure and keep
So I held my beloved's picture
and started to weep
Oh pain!
you have grown inside me so deep
The path of grief is long and steep
Where is the future
that she was supposed to reap?
Oh longing for my daughter
every moment,you creep
And keep me awake
when the world around me is asleep
Oh Lord, let me doze
and have a glimpse of her or a peep
in a dream as when
she happily drove the jeep
Or when she was running
on hearing her phone beep
Or when she was a child
and I sang for her "Little Bo Peep"
For without a glance of her
I can no longer this life upkeep

Randah Ribhi Hamadeh,Copyright
Summer Rays,2009
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)

I Look for You

I look for you all around and find you
Everywhere, in every corner, in every place
We had memories to share. I look for you
Yet my heart tells me Stop searching,
You and your beloved daughter are now a pair
Your love and faith keep her alive. Close your eyes
And you will see her beautiful smile and black hair
And you will smell her special fragrant scent in the air

She is an angel needed in heaven to look after you and care

Randah R. Hamadeh©, 2009, Copyright
Summer Rays
In Loving Memory of My Daughter,Samar Al Ansari

A Mother’s Grief

“In time, dear, your wound will heal
And you’ll observe changes in how you feel
Your suffering will lessen a great deal“
Words said to comfort but so unreal

Words that bring tears to a mother’s eyes
She is hurt but they don’t realize
What the loss of a child does even to the wise
A part of her is gone when a child dies.

Bereaved mothers are unique in their grief
Their bereavement is for life, not short and brief
Lamenting a child is endless, without any relief
Believe me, they aren’t in denial or disbelief

Accept their sorrow and endless pain
Their ultimate loss is of no return
Thank God they survived it and are still sane
Allow them to grieve without any restraint

Acknowledge that a mother’s heart will never heal
Understand what she goes through and feel
Try to be less demanding of her is my appeal
And don’t ask her to bury her sorrow and conceal

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

Oh Days!

Oh, days, come back
when we were five!
When happiness in our home
was able to thrive
The days that we enjoyed
when SAMAR was alive
The days before my beloved
went on her last drive
And before joy became
a word in our archive
Oh, present, I wish
that you had not arrived!
I never have imagined
that I would survive
a day
where in the sea of sorrow
I would dive
Oh, days, come back
to when we were five!


Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Summer Rays

You Will Heal

Words of advice like
“You will heal”
To a grieving mother
are so unreal.
Is her heart
made of steel?
Or of layers
that she can peel?
Grief to mothers
is like a spinning wheel.
No one can appreciate the pain
she feels
Or the agony
that is felt and she conceal.
Do not advise a grieving mother
I appeal
And tell her that one day
“You will heal.”

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©

Summer Rays p63

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

Eighteen Years

Eighteen years went quickly by
Like the blink of an eye.
It’s only yesterday when I heard your first cry
Took you to sleep and sang you a lullaby.
Comforted you when I heard you sigh,
Wiped your tears and your eyes dry.
It’s only yesterday when we went to buy
The several dresses you picked to try
And the eye makeup I did apply.
Your life was too short to say good-bye.
How I cherish the moments we spent,
you and I,
And miss your eyes that sparkled like
stars in the sky
And your magical smile that kept my
spirits high.
With no wings, WHY? Why did you
have to fly?

Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Summer Rays

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

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

Men Can Cry

I want you to know
that men can cry
They shouldn’t hold their tears
when loved ones die

And if the deceased
is someone so dear
Don’t be so scared
to drop a tear

I assure you
that I feel your pain
Tell me what good it does
if silent you remain?

Instead, be yourself
and express your sorrow
Shed your tears
and in your grief wallow

Shout, scream
and call up her name
Even though
society considers it a shame


Randah R. Hamadeh, 2009, Copyright©
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)

Dear Nieces

Dear nieces,

I know how much you try
To hold your tears and not cry.

I feel the sadness that you try to hide
And the heartache you keep deep inside.

In our looks, her memory we embrace
And we see her in each other’s faces.

I am writing this to let you know
That I recognize the pain you try not to show.

I want to thank you and express my love
Along with that sent to you from heaven above.

Summer Rays Copyright© 2009
by Randah Ribhi Hamadeh
Written in loving memory of my daughter
Samar Ahmed Al Ansari (4/4/1988-4/9/2006)

A toughtful gift made by Lina Saab (Samar's aunt) to Um Samar