The War-Torn Child

By Hafsah Aneela Bashir

I will tell God everything

The sharp metal pieces

Taken out of my stomach

Will all come with me..

 

I will tell God everything

The men with the guns

And the airplanes of fire

Will all get in trouble

 

I will tell God everything

And ask if the lightening in the sky

Was Him taking photos

If not, I’ll give him my drawings

 

I will tell God everything

That mama’s face was gone

But I found Baba’s feet

And put them together like shoes

 

Hafsah Aneela Bashir is a poet and spoken word artist currently completing an MA in Postcolonial Literary and Culture at the University of Leeds. Her poetry has been published by Crocus Books in the anthology, ‘When Saira Met Sara’ bringing together Muslim and Jewish writers. This poem, The War-Torn Child, won second prize in Interpal’s poetry competition. Read more of her work at http://hafsahaneelabashir.wordpress.com/.