In the name of Allah I begin,
another day of my life to fill in.
I step outside the door, take a breath
walk down the steps and hope not to meet death
I see a man look at me,
in fear and hate, as if he’d wanted to flee.
I open a newspaper,
headlines smack me across the face,
“Muslims hate the Western Race”
I get on the public train,
eyes lock on me and my bag.
As I step out, a woman shouts, “Muslims, go back!”
I keep on walking and get on the bus,
people stare at me, and I wanna say, “What’s the fuss?”
I drag myself to school,
face the many eyes of ignorant fools.
I get hit at
Spat at
Pushed at
Pulled at.
Get hit by a baseball bat.
After school’s all done,
I run and run and run.
My mind spinning and turning,
My inner core melting and burning
My heart beating against my ribs,
pumping blood through my bruised limbs.
I crash through the door and sprint up to my room,
Drop beside my bed and drown in the gloom
The tears force themselves out of my eyes,
I’ve realized I’ve been living a lie.
My soul crashed before my feet
Twisting and twirling,
begging to be free
Politicians with their racist talks fill my brain
Each word causing me pain.
My eyes so blood red
My tears have been shed.
I get down on my knees and raise my hands
Ask the Lord to give me a hand.
I close my eyes and silently sob
I hear my heart throb.
Each beat telling me to stand up.
Each beat telling me to speak up.
Each beat telling me to hold on.
Each beat telling me it won’t be long.
I smile to myself,
Knowing that the Lord has heard my cry
Knowing that He wants me to give this life a try.
I change clothes and jump up onto my bed,
I whisper in a voice so dim,
“In the name of Allah I begin,
The most merciful of all.
In the name of Allah I end
Knowing that He is the most gracious of us all.”