To a child refugee

(To a sick child refugee, I helped settle down in Canada…)

How many times in your ten little years
Did you feel pain and burst into tears?
Who use to hold your cold little hand-
Before you asked me - to help you to stand?

You were just a new name in my mind
Then in a glimpse, you were enchanted to find,
All the friendly faces waiting in line
Holding your name on a "Welcome" sign…
You gave me a hug, and it was so warm,
That my soulful emotions took me by storm…
I saw in you the kids I could not save,
The little hearts that were so brave,
The fearful souls that were in pain
and all the children who died in vain…

Was it fate? or was it meant to be,
For us to meet across the sea?
Today, through your tears I saw your smile,
And realized that your journey
was so worthwhile
Maybe it is time to find a cure
For all the pain you had to endure,
Maybe it is time for the new sun to rise
And for you to grow under the big blue skies…
So be happy and let your dreams go wild,
And learn again to be a child…
Thus bid farewell to your long moments of grief,
And wave to your future under the maple leaf...

October 2016