fortitude

by Nemat

sometimes I search for you in old songs songs I don’t listen to anymore but dearly close to my heart life has taken a different turn and I am terribly lost my tongue has dried my pen broken

sometimes I see you in others maybe hallucinations maybe I am gone crazy they smile and go past me like you did I treasure their smiles and yours

if you ever return stay by my side forget the time forget broken hearts don’t count wrinkles ignore grey hair let us feel the warmth of our presence and smiles that can be tricky

war consumes everything we hold dear our story my dear is trivial

there was a mother whose sons left her her own daughter taken away before her eyes her only disabled child left behind and vanished like a ghost yet she keeps hope and prays that wherever they are they are happy yet they are not

when others talk about happiness I assume it is fictional when they talk about sorrows I think it is real when they complain I assume it is fake when they show gratitude I think it is courage it takes courage to be grateful for our memories fiction or real and hold a handful of stories stories of fortitude stories of mothers

About the author: Nemat Ahangosh, originally from Ghazni, Afghanistan, is now based in England and works in public libraries across Brighton & Hove. He also founded Stretch More, a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales that supports disabled people in disasters through inclusive initiatives. He completed an MA in Conflict, Security and Development at the University of Sussex. In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing poetry.

Editors note: We are publishing three of Nemat’s poems this week in honor of Refugee Week. This is what the Refugee Week’s website says: “Refugee Week brings together people from different backgrounds to connect beyond labels, and foster a deeper understanding of why people are displaced, and the challenges they face when seeking safety. This year the theme is courage. For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.” https://refugeeweek.org/