the stars on the other side
Feb 6th, 2008 by indigo-daisy
The Stars on the Other Side
I look at the stars up in the sky
The same stars that shine on the other side
My life is surrounded with harmony
A plethora of food in my pantry
Warm shelter for sleep
I look again at the stars in the sky
Indeed the same stars
The heavens won’t lie
My children have dreams
More than the ocean blue
Opportunities abundant
To make them come true
I look again at the stars in the sky
Do they look the same on the other side?
~Deborah Abdulla
This was the first of three poems I submitted to “Poets Against War”.
Before the first Desert Storm I had the opportunity to visit my husbands family in Baghdad. I was young and so full of hope to be able to be a part of and start a relationship with his beautiful and loving family. I remember one night sitting outside in their garden and I plopped one of my nieces on my lap and pointed up to the stars.
“We have the same stars in America” I said. “That means I am not really that far away from you because we share the same sky”.
The following summer the bombs started falling in Baghdad. I felt as though I deceived this precious little girl, because I did not feel that close at all. I was worlds away. I would look at the stars and wonder how this could be happening.
Indigo, what an achingly beautiful piece of prose … your words really touched a cord deep within me and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and so sad for all the innocent people who are caught up in this hell. We all thought it would be over within a few months …. but many years later, the madness continues without any end in sight. But, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us all
Missus T,
Thank you for your kind comments. I have yet to make it back to Iraq, a place that once the world barely knew existed. I hope to return one day, to see a new generation with hopes of peace and stars that shine as brightly as ours.
Thats beautiful Deborah…love the poem… i do astronomy, and when I look into the night, I’m awed that we share the one sky, I’m also aware how fragile our planet, and ourselves are…No you didnt decieve your neice, you spoke the truth from the heart, and non of us could be aware of the nightmare to come….be gentle on yourself
Thank you Abby, I am also awed that we share the same sky as generations before us and amazed at how they found answers in the placement of the stars. I pray that the generations to come see stars that elude to peace.