When the World Falls Apart

Words by: Faris Jiwad, 11

That’s when the world fell apart.

My mother left me,

Alone.

I can see her struggling.

She’s about to let go.

That’s when the world fell apart.

Her bed behind a window that’s

Just out of my reach.

Just out of my touch.

C’mon, just a little further.

That’s when the world fell apart.

I’m begging the man

To let me see her.

He won’t comply.

Her body in the freezer with the veggies.

That’s when the world fell apart.

The clown in the yellow wig

Says everything is fine,

Says everything will be OK.

It isn’t

That’s when the world fell apart.

I couldn’t be there when she

Wanted me,

Needed me.

What kind of son am I?

That’s when the world fell apart.

I can’t trust anybody to protect me.

I’m alone in this world,

Treated as secondhand,

Currency.

That’s when the world fell apart.

Currency: A system of money in general

Use in a particular country.

Like currency, I can be everywhere

And nowhere.

That’s where I am right now.

Nowhere.

And I’m nobody. I can’t differentiate.

I’m general.

Normal.

That’s where I will be soon.

Drifting the streets.

Nobody can tell who I am or what I will be.

Something that I can’t even see

Has taken everything from me.

You’ve left me with nothing.

No home.

No mother.

No life.

Can’t even leave if I wanted to.

I’ll get you eventually.

I swear it.

Until there’s nothing left of me

Or there’s nothing left of you.

I swear it.

“What Used to Be” by Nanaki Preet Bawa, 10

“Lion” by Neha Nair, 10