An Unknown Entity

By Moiz Khan

You expect us to withstand everything when every day of our life is in grief’s possession

You’d know how hard it is if only we shared the same position

Your idea of protection is the reason for my safety’s deprivation

And your sense of righteousness the reason for my world’s irrationality.

 

Is it reasonable to carry on a fight where there is no gain?

And where “hurting people” is not considered inhumane?

 

The sense to not follow every single word a leader says is what humanity lacks

Is it not obvious to you when some of your friends are sent home in body bags?

You say we are merciless and ruthless, if so then answer me this please

How is it that around the world in public, it is we who are on our knees?

 

Nobody looks forward to war. We learned from the battles that passed

Also from the soldiers that will still fight whenever they are asked

And what have women and children done to have a part in this war?

They are but the reason that many men are out there fighting for.

 

It is the murder of innocents that is the ugliest

And the coffins of small children that are the heaviest.

 

Ask the people who have suffered the most and whose hearts are not at ease

Come to me and accuse me of lying if they want anything other than peace

People rejoice a blue sky on this Earth that we live on

Others pray for a grey sky so they get a chance to live on.

Because the metal harbingers of cold blood-shed

Don’t consider a grey sky a day to prepare for a rose bed.

 

Heed the Muslim Majority’s yell

The wrong interpreters of Islam are destined for hell.

At the end of the day, what is it that you hold dear?

To them it is the same; they wish to sleep without fear.

 

From the man who is detained at the airport for having a long beard

To the woman who is to be frisked but refuses to have a man too near

From the young boy who sees people insulting Islam on television

To the young girl who sees ugly tweets about her religion

To every person who faces problems in a different city

Terrorism, people, has no religion, race or ethnicity.

 

 

Moiz Khan is an exchange student from Pakistan currently living in Virginia with an American host family. He studies as a Junior at Community High School in Roanoke. English is his third language.