The breeze pushed her braids this way and that
She closed her eyes and smiled
As the sea mist hit her face
Everything felt perfect
Everything was perfect
Dear Fatima
I can still feel you, sister
Your little hand,
Caressing my cheek
The feel of your body
Pressed up close against mine
Curling up when our bai yells at your yai
So innocent, uncertain, tiny, and helpless
I miss you
I love you
always will, always have
-Aminata

The boat lurched
Sending her sprawling onto the deck,
Face first,
And waking her from her daydream
Getting up she tipped this way and that
As the boat rocked back and forth.
He stood next to her, a respectful distance
Then, like all the Americans she had seen,
She put her hand around his waist
And lifted her eyes to his
He slowly put his arm around her shoulders,
And looked down from his 6’9 height
To meet her smile with his brilliant one
Turning their heads to the horizon, they watched the sunset
She felt brave
Disobeying the rules like that
Yes, he was only her brother,
But he was a man
Men never ever hugged women

We had survived so much
Sandstorms
Bandits
Barely any food
Or water
And yet
We still had
More to survive
If
The boat doesn’t
Sink
We might make it.
Maybe.
All i can
Hope for is
That my little siblings
Get to Italy
safely
I can hear
My mom’s prayers chanting in my head
As I bow and face
Mecca, the holy land
Allahu akbar

Brother
Hold me
Hold me closer
As i grab the smaller
Siblings
Together
Can we stand
because
Alone, nothing stays
Even the strongest buildings have supports
Perhaps
Mine will be
My
family

Maybe i
Shouldn’t worry
but
If this
Boat
Crashes
We will
All die
Because who
Really knows
How to swim
None of us
Lived by
Water
Ever before

Maybe now we
Will be able to live,
Like the people we want to
Be.
But who really knows
If this wonderland
This heaven
This land of
Gold
Is real
Or are their stories
Ones of dreams

Dreams
Dreams,
Dreams bring people together
And they tear us apart
I have dreams of writing
Of living like presidents
Of choosing my man
Dreams are
Silly ridiculous things they say
Asinine talk
Ridiculous

But dreams make
Me live
Without them
life
Is a dessert
As forlorn
As the Sahara
Sand, blowing
across
The dunes
Changing,
Changing,
Sahara,
Beautiful
She dances,
Twirling in her golden robes
The sun,
Complimenting her harsh features
Like a crown
Heat waves, shimmering
Daring any to contest her beauty
Her eyes,
Sapphire blue
taunting,
Teasing,
Winking,
At those who
Try and cross her
You see it, then
its
Gone

I went sprawling again, but
this time, almost over the edge.
The boat had stopped, and
the horn blared
I screamed,
We were

S
I
N
K
I
N
G

down into the depths
Of the sea, my
worst enemy

My family disappeared,
And i desperately
Gasped for air
the water filled my lungs,
i saw the sun fade
the water stung my eyes as i looked
up to where my life should be
Down, down
Down
i sunk
Like a rock, slowly
then the world disappeared
No up, down, north, south, day, night,
Just black.

Dreams in my head
like hurricanes
attacking from all sides
I will never fufill them
never.
they are gone.
gone.

I sit,
Throwing up
Water,
Everywhere, alive.
Praise him,
Praise God.
Air has never tasted like this
Sweet, like
A bonbon

My sibilngs,
Somewhere, out there,
Thankfully,
Alive

Life is often taken for granted
Never will I forget
That I almost wasn’t here.
That i could be dead.
Soon, I will start a new
Life.

Bitter
Sweet
Praise Allah

Not everyone makes it.