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Personal Journey

End yourself,

in a world

where everything is at your fingertips.

But you can’t possibly grade it,

take it,

keep it.

Because it remains hidden,

in a box of wonders,

in a room of questions,

in a world of mysteries,

waiting to be discovered.

If you seek, you shall find.

Follow the voice inside

who guides you along

the barren path.

Follow the feeling

that insists you go.

Follow the spirit

deep within.

Follow the heart

that keeps you alive.

For the one who guides you

is never wrong.

—Alysha A., Grade 10

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar. 

Ramadan is like a river

I swim through, until I need a larger body of water, food.

Then I keep following this cycle until Ramadan is over.

Ramadan is like a month of being good.

At the end of Ramadan is Eid-ul-futr, the Islamic Thanksgiving.

Eid-ul-fitr is a holiday for Muslims at the end of the month.

Oh yes, you must have the candy.

—Moonim, Muhammed, and Mahidi

Anger

Catastrophic events, clashes and clangs

Misery embellished in my soul

Unable to communicate

Undesired peace.

Struggling for an answer

To the confusing world around me

Broken hearts, unmended spirits

No harmony.

Rhythm is devalued, spare and torn.

Misused and abused

Shattered and worn

Nothing but fear

Where is the faith

The belief in what could possibly be a normal society

an undestructed world

“Never to happen!” people say

All in one scribbled line.

—Dominque W., Grade 9

Rain

That which sustains life

falls from the heavens

to shower the earth

with love.

    —Alysha A., grade 10

Words

See the words,

Nice words.

How they make you

Feel proud.

Say them loud.

See the awesome cool ways,

Hear the saying of the word.

Hear the words,

Mean words.

How they crush a

Human’s heart and

Kill their feelings.

    —Yasmeen W., grade 6

Spring

Spring is beautiful, just like nature.

It captures our spirit like a fisherman

Does to fish.

It promotes the feeling of love

And lands us on a trip,

Not to the moon or Mars,

But to peace and harmony.

    —Nicole M., grade 7

I Am the World

I am the earth, I am the world.

I am swimming in the stars.

The clouds are my feet.

I have blue hair.

My hair is soft

and it gets wet a lot

with my tears

falling into people.

The winds are my wishes

spreading around,

and the thunder is my scream

yelling for help.

    —Stephanie M., grade 5

The Threshold

Ramadan, the greatest gift and blessing to mankind

    and the incarnation of kindness.

Ramadan, the month to forgive, give and earn.

Earn rewards, give to the poor,

collect some money and fundraise door to door.

The month is a time to empty our pockets

     and to give to the ones that don’t have them.

Lailatul Qadr, the night of infinite blessings

    and the threshold between eternal suffering or eternal bliss.

Eid brings joy to all people, no matter how poor they may be.

—Nishi, Sharmin, and Umme

Love

No one invented love,

It’s just a feeling in life.

When you love someone,

It’s caring for someone.

Love is the importance of life.

Always promise to be there

And care for each other.

Love is not just about boyfriend and girlfriend,

It’s about loving everyone,

Even your enemy.

    —Josue N., grade 6