Just a tale to tell

I miss my son

I miss my home

I miss green grass and beautiful flowers in my garden

I miss my extended family, we can't visit any more

I miss our gatherings on Thursdays

I miss walking to the roundabout, with my kids, for exercise every evening

I miss Mutanebbi Street on Friday mornings, where I bought countless second-hand books – the only kind there are.

I miss al-Ilwiya Club lunches on Fridays and Bingos on Tuesday evenings

I miss going to the swimming pool and being emmersed in water

I miss shopping around midnight

I miss my life

I thank God for my daughter and my son

I thank God that I am able to support them through my job and needn't beg a living from my male relatives (as is customary if I am jobless)

I thank God for good health and strength …… But I still miss my life – and I know that the life I knew here in Baghdad is gone forever and all that remains is a tale to tell… to those who don't know the Baghdad that I knew.

Comments

[Mutaz Homsi]

I cry for you
What you miss is what I miss
I miss my soul
I miss the laughter
I miss the smell
I miss the gathering, the life we had
What did happen, it was so fast
Who are those people that kill themself
Who gave them the right to kill ?
But not to worry, I like to say
I hear you from far away
I can't stand missing anymore
One thing nobody will take aay
The feeling of missing of being lost
You are on mind , just keep this thought

[blackdachsie]

I am so sorry Baghdad will never be the same place. Iraqis deserve to live in peace and freedom. All people do. I wish there was a way to heal all the wounds, my heart aches for you all. We host an Iraqi student from Baghdad. We love him. He came on a student visa and is now seeking asylum. It is hard for him here and he misses his family so much. I wish we could bring them all here. There's 28 family members living in his house. The Iraqi's have been under such oppression and terror for so long, Saadam, sanctions, wars and so on. All American's should write their congressmen or senators about giving asylum to more Iraqi's. It is the least we can do.

[ljm]

I am grateful for you, dear friend.