Writer’s Seminar Emulation – Hefseeba ~ Ishtta

“In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”

The morning sun cast a ray of blissful peace upon the awakened nature.

Flowers are in full bloom,

sweet aroma filling the air.

Two birds singing,

each note echoing ones loves for the other

And here I stand alone by the little dirt road,

wondering when you will be home.

Time and times crawl away,

stopping ever so often to inflict pain.

Everything crumbles,

not one stone is left on stone.

And here I stand, weary and tired,

but I have not fallen because you told me not to do so.

I am forced to chose – to live or to die.

For the love of God and for the love of my dear child,

I took on the cruelty of living in fear; in pain; in agonizing terror.

But I am strong, I will not fall.

Or so I tell myself.

Each night is a war to be won.

Bundles of blankets lay useless,

chillness set into the joints of our bones

and we shiver uncontrollably as the cold declares victory.

Be strong, my little one,

We will get through the night to the promise of the rising sun.

I hold her close, kiss her thinning hair, and pray to God that she lives to see the next morning.

Silent tears spill as the rumble of her hungry stomach echoes into my heart chambers.

I have done my best but I know it is not enough.

It is on days like this where hope against hope blossoms into faith,

as I stand here waiting for you.