A Scene

by nouriguess   Aug 24, 2013


An old man making a speech,
a sad crowd standing up and clapping,
petals, confetti, rice and flags,
a lonely hole in the ground waiting
for something to fill its void,
marmalade, death, death,
so much death, so much death in
us that this new martyr who's just
been taken out of the morgue looks
more alive than we do. He was nobody;
a small house in old Damascus,
two empty plates in the fridge and
a hungry kid. That's all he had. He
was nobody; his hands were tired and
arid and he knew he was nobody
but I felt the wind crying when they
buried him.
600.
The air smells of blood,
our mornings couldn't be filled with
more carnages, every child has a
number on their shroud. They
reached 600 this time.
An old man making a speech,
a homeland resting on a map, a mass
execution lurking in the corner and
every child will hold a number
on their shroud.

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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Mohan

    Actually I am not a good commenter.
    so I dont't know how to comment for this,
    great poem and you deserve the win...

  • 10 years ago

    by Poet on the Piano

    What's really neat about how you wrote this poem is that the images all impact the reader emotionally.... they don't just sit there dully without purpose. It's descriptive and visual yet knowing this is all you see, that little can be done now, is incredibly sad.

    What made this even more heartrending is the fact you are a citizen there, this should be your homeland yet violence is tearing up the soil that should be filled with pride. Can't say more because the others have said it so well on here. You make plain descriptions have meaning as well as touch the reader because we don't see this going on. We don't know true tragedy necessarily. I think it also takes strength and courage to write of others' stories, even if death has already taken over them, you are seeing that man who is just another person, but feel something for as he is being buried. As if the earth/country itself is mourning.

    Love how you write. Congrats!

  • 10 years ago

    by Hellon

    This is a heartbreaking read. There are so many appalling scenes for the reader to take in here as the story progresses and each one seems worse that the previous one. I think the repetition worked really well in this particular verse because it hammered each emotional scene straight into the readers heart. I really loved your word used here Noura...and excellent poem and very well deserving of your win...

  • 10 years ago

    by Meena Krish

    A moving write that will touch the core of every
    reader. We are surrounded by war and death
    with no escape!

    Your words here brings out strong images which
    pulls the reader into a world where pain and sadness is the only reality..touching.

    Congrats on the win.

  • 10 years ago

    by silvershoes

    Heartbreaking, Noura. You made me tear up. Your inside perspective on what's happening in Syria is invaluable, and your ability with words makes it feel more graspable for readers like me who are living in a bubble far away from the chaos.
    I wanted to grab a few lines from your poem that I felt were most powerful, but what's the point.
    Wonderful writing.

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