Survivor’s Guilt

By Abdullah Sufi

Dedicated to all the innocent lives destroyed because of wars and terrorist attacks
It’s been days now,

Grasping for air, trying to breath.

Innocence lost, how dare I turn the other cheek.

Extending my hand, hoping it can reach you.

Seas of red, black & grey clouds in the sky,

Shackled to my knees asking why, why? Why?

Pieces of a kid, my walls are tumbling,

Houses that were once homes crumbling,

Babies screaming seeing explosions and murder before they even see a human being, murders without reason.

Leaving children wondering, from their first steps,

Our generation losing respect,

“Is this what the world really like?”

“Is this the human way?”

Love torn, no wonder some are raised by hate.

This happens so much, how am I still phased?

I want to run through the dust and smoke to save you,

Lift you out of the rubble and tell you that you’re brave too,

So you can see what life has in store, no matter rich or poor,

A world where nobody’s mother has to cry anymore.

But should you have to be brave, should you have to fight for the given gift of life?

 

Should kids turn to hate that leave others in a coffin

Because no teacher taught them?

Angry, confused, hurt as my tears meet the dirt,

Tears leaving dripping from my pen as my fingers tremble as I write this verse.

But that’s survivor’s guilt,

When you watch the foundation fall from a far that we once built.

Potential dreams and aspirations deferred by a faceless enemy,

Masquerading as a human entity,

But this isn’t humanity,

Just pure insanity,

Just another manifestation of hate which has no religion, color, or age.

The purest form of rage that left humanity encaged.

Though you may not be here, your voice and memories will still live,

We will be the voices we hope you forgive.

Standing for you, not letting your demise be in vain,

No longer compromising my shame,

But to keep the faith alive that it won’t be long,

Til the world sings that same beautiful song,

That unfamiliar, yet reminiscent melody.

Holding hands, stranger to stranger singing about what humanity is supposed to be.

 

Abdullah Sufi is a Pakistani American with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Emory University.