Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Across the Road

Carrying her books with her tiny hands,
Counting steps back home from school,
Her pigtailed hair swinging as she moves.
Remembering every advice her mom says:
"Look left and right before you cross"
Never forgetting her father's words:
"Not to talk to any stranger on the road".

She walks smiling to some kittens down the street
And begged her friends not to pebble one.
Singing songs how to be smart and strong
She and her colleagues learned at school.

Looking left and right before I cross,
Not to talk to any stranger on the road.

Her school was few blocks away.
The neighborhood was calm in a way.
The eyes of mothers peeked a lot
From windows, fences and attics.
To make sure their children are back.
Children walked like floating angels
Spreading joy in every avenue, they walk:

Looking left and right before they cross
Not to talk to any stranger on the road.

Bang, a tremendous sound pound
Scattered books from the kids' tiny hands.
They ran in panic to each other's arms
To comfort and find consolations.
They all walked in the street
And she alone on the sidewalk
She thought she would be safe.
But alas, it was her end, it never helped:

Looking left and right before she crossed
Not to talk to any stranger on the road.


Only blooded books reached home
And the ribbon that tied her pigtail.
Her mom saw the disaster from the roof
Couldn't help but crying her infant,
Who walked peacefully round the world
Never expecting a bomb down the road.
She gone mad for her child
Disregarding everything she knew.
Was is fate or a mistake she done
To be deprived form her six-years child?
She tried to protect her baby girl yet didn't help:

Looking left and right before one cross
Neither not to talk to any stranger on the road


April 28, 2006

Any criticism???

5 Comments:

Blogger David said...

Attawie,

This is a very sad story! The image of the little girl's death and of the grief of her mother is vivid in my mind! I am sure that many mother's in Iraq and in other countries have lived a similar experience. There is nothing more tragic than the death of a child, especially such a senseless death as you have described!

I actually wrote something similar in my blog after the earthquake in India/Pakistan. I wrote about a little girl and her caring mother who dropped her off to school. Many children died when their schools collapsed. I was very sad after hearing that.

You are a good writer!

5/04/2006 9:15 AM  
Blogger Caesar of Pentra said...

Oh, baby! Cheer up ( or 7 up)! ok?!
I don't understand the concept of poetry or how it works but I think yours is amazing!

5/04/2006 1:07 PM  
Blogger olivebranch said...

Here's the edit I did!

You are also invited to join the Olivebranch Poetry Page here's the address my dear (this is the poetry blog you and I have been talking about for a long time):

http://obpoetry.blogspot.com/

it has one other poem of mine so far, I will be editing and posting many of my old material and making them much better on here!

Across the Road

Carrying her books in tiny hands,
counting the steps back home from school;
her pigtailed hair swings as she moves.

She remembers the advice her mother gave:
"Look left and right before you cross".
She never forgets her father's words:
"No talking to strangers out on the road!"

She walks up to kittens down the street,
and begs her friends not to pebble one.
Singing about being smart and strong;
those songs she learned at school.

“Look left and right before I cross!
No talking to strangers out on the road!”

Her school was just a few blocks away,
the neighbourhood was calm; in a way.
The eyes of mothers peered a lot-
from windows and fences or attics.

They make sure their children come back.
Those children walk like floating angels;
spreading joy down every avenue:

It’s in the way walk.

Looking left and right before they cross,
not talking to strangers out on the road.


- BANG -

The tremendous sound pounds…

Scattering books from tiny hands,
they run to each other in panic;
seeking comfort and consolation.

They all walked upon the street;
and she alone on the sidewalk.

She thought she would be safer there;
alas, it was her end. Nothing had helped:

Not Looking left and right before she crossed,
nor not talking to strangers upon the road.
She had thought she would be safer there…


But only bloodied books had made it home,
and the ribbon which had tied her hair…
Her mother had seen the disaster from her roof,
but couldn't have helped her infant.

She walked so peacefully around the world-
not expecting a bomb just down the road.

She went mad for her child.

She disregarded all she knew.
Was it fate or some mistake?

Deprived of her six-year old child,
she had tried to protect her baby girl…
-but nothing had helped.

Not looking left and right before she crossed
Nor not talking to strangers out on the road.
She had thought she would be safe.


April 28, 2006 by Attawie,
edited by Luke(y) Skinner 7/5/06

5/07/2006 5:25 PM  
Blogger Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Attawie and Olivebranch,

You make a good team. That was very poignant.

5/10/2006 11:04 PM  
Blogger attawie said...

hey guys,
I had a problem logging in.. slow net..

I like the poem but somehow I just wanted to post it without editing or any revision.
As long as Olivebranch and I make a good team, I'll save my time and let him edit ;)

a new post is coming but the i have to log in first.

5/11/2006 7:09 PM  

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