Poem for Brunel University - Hillingdon Literary Festival 2017
ORDINARY PEOPLE: EXCEPTIONAL LIVES
Message from
Dante to Brunel University:
Marjorie is
care worn with the trials of a hard life. In her northern saying she would say
“she has been through the mill.” The more time we share together the more I
pick up on her sayings and her accent.
She laughs when I speak in her Yorkshire accent. She comes to me from her own life traumas. Her
pain is like a duet with mine, our spirits resonate together. We are both traumatised souls. Marjorie stood out for me as someone special
that I could trust. She had her own bad personal experience but she had also been
aware of the suffering of the Palestinians. This had made her a prolific writer
on the facebook; and this attracted me to her energy and her activist drive for
improving this world.
I would look
into her eyes and it was as if mine were mirrored back as they were full of the
images of this bad world. Now through my
narrations she was seeing the darkness of all that was happening in Syria. Her eyes tired with all the pre occupation of
this world pain but at the same time full of the compassion for all humanity.
Marjorie would deeply feel the pain of all she heard and saw, unable to hold
back, her eyes would glisten with tears.
She felt for my family and our pain that we were in, now separated and
scattered. She became a link between me
and my sister’s family in Athens. With
Allahs love and provision some funds had come to her for the trips to see me
and to visit Boshra. She has lost much
in her life, just as we had lost too, but we were to gain her and her love. We
as a family absorbed her into our hearts as we saw and felt the care and love
she had for us all. I am happy for her
to share the journey of care with my Family Link Up.
Princess Leen
Leen:
I am
Princess Leen
You know me
I am a
refugee
With mama I
had to flee
My roots
torn from my family tree
I was born
in a camp
In winter
cold and damp
I learnt to
walk tall
Holding on a
UN tent pole
Then mama
& papa were scared
The crossing
to Greece dared
We made it
on to Greek shores
To shouts,
screams and roars
Pulled to
safety, our boat without oars.
To another
camp we went
A cabin not
a tent
With others
I made friends
We learned
to play and follow trends
As visitors
from a far came
One called
me Princess by my name.
We helped
mama together and played games
And photos
of me she brought in frames.
We shopped together
and found a pet to cuddle.
Chased the
pigeons in the square in a huddle.
We laughed
and giggled and played ball
She now
thinks I am growing up tall.
Marjorie:
I am one of
those visitors that came
Yes gave the
title Princess to her name
Princess
Leen I saw was a light
Her eyes,
her smiles shone bright.
No matter
where she is, she shines
And she felt
in my heart and mine
With her
family I care and befriend
Our love and
care true not pretend.
My princess
took my heart when I first saw
Her standing
in the UN tent holding the pole not to fall.
Then to
Athens they were located
I travelled
with clothes and toys donated.
My first
time to hold her was awesome
The strength
of this little girl inspired great and truly
is awesome.
She dressed
in clothes I had brought
You could
see her deep in thought.
She wore
with pride & laughter in her eyes
She could
feel the warmth of love for her
From all
that had sent their hearts to her.
The most fun
was her gift of Paddington bear
Her first time
seeing of this famous bear
The book
with his picture was a delight
Her eyes
full of fun and light
She had a
companion that was famous
But now she
is just as famous
Yes we would
shop together
Visit the
city as family in all weather.
Ice creams
and candy, dolls and clothes
These visits
to the shops she would choose.
Camp:
Leen is a
star that shines
With all the
families caring
She loves to
play football
For all she
is so small.
Her giggles
and her excitement heard
Every time
the ball kicks and rolls
Then she
likes to draw pictures for the wall.
With others
she goes to the school hall.
With giggles
and excitement
Colourful
crayons and she scribbles
Then she
runs and falls
Quickly she
picks herself up a moment tear
Then off she
goes to find another adventure with no fear.
She learns
her languages with listening
Sometime a
word of French
Sometimes a
word of English
Then we hear
her Yorkshire from Marjorie’s visits. “oh that’s nice, wheres me mother!”
Sometimes it
is great to forget we are refugees.
But let not the world forget that there are broken lives to rebuild in love as a Global Family Link up.
This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too.. and any ideas on fundraising let me know..
But let not the world forget that there are broken lives to rebuild in love as a Global Family Link up.
This project is my life for the rest of my life for sure and there is so much we can do together in the family life rebuild. Don't forget you can help not only with donations but shopping online too.. and any ideas on fundraising let me know..
Family Link Up - be part of the story
Donate through gofundme Thank you!
