It’s National Poetry Day! Refugee Message Poem

Liz Brownlee ♦ October 6, 2016 ♦ 2 Comments

Yes – it’s National Poetry Day TODAY!!

And all day I will be posting and tweeting message poems to the planet of various types, mine, and those sent to me for my National Poetry Day Message poem competition!

Having taken part in Fiona Dunbar‘s auction of authors’ books etc recently, to support refugees and child refugees in particular, I am starting off today with this message poem by me, from a child refugee.

.

Message from a Refugee

..

After the bombing
all are dead
all is gone

.
and I walk

.
I can carry only
my father’s pride
my mother’s longing
my brother’s blood
my sister’s hope

.
but my father’s pride
cannot be carried
as a refugee
so I lay it down

.
and I walk

.
when I sleep
my mother’s longing
is too painful to hold
so I lay it down

.
and I walk

.
until my shoes
fall off my feet
and I leave
my brother’s blood
and my own
on the road
as if it is worthless

.
and I walk

.
carry only
my sister’s hope
which is light

.
but this, too,
at the end,
cannot be carried

.
so I lay it down.

.

.

© Liz Brownlee 2016