Poem #2

By Ayah Shehata, OMS II
Dublin

every time the sun’s light touches my skin
its warm embrace
reminds me of my distant home
where family is everlasting

where the chaos of the streets
brings me so much peace
not in its persistent noise
but in its relentless energy

where I learned what it means to love
to be loved
to be brave
to have the strength to open myself to satisfaction

where we do not say thank you
we say may God grant you what your soul desires
we do not just say hello
we welcome with open arms
or rather hearts

where I began to understand
beauty in the ability to touch
another person’s fragile being
let them know
simply
that I am here
I know
I feel
I care
enough to not leave you alone
for there is power in together
in you and me
us
in family

-Cairo, Egypt