Twenty Little Souls in Heaven

18 Jan

I’ve made some slight revisions to my poem, To The 20 Little Souls in Heaven. The changes are minimal, but I think this version is better.

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This poem is dedicated to the twenty little souls who were taken away by senseless violence.

Charlotte Bacon
Olivia Engel
Dylan Hockley
Jesse Lewis
Ana Marquez-Greene
Grace McDonnell
Emilie Parker
Noah Pozner
Jessica Rekos
Daniel Barden
Josephine Gay
Madeleine Hsu
Catherine Hubbard
Chase Kowalski
James Mattioli
Jack Pinto
Caroline Previdi
Avielle Richman
Benjamin Wheeler
Allison Wyatt

Twenty Little Souls in Heaven

Before we became birds,

the coldness of metal did take us
the littleness of our frames

were no sanctuary of any kind
little, death took, no matter

Before we became birds,
before we owned sky
little clocks wound back our time

we could not hold longer to earth

so we elevated to sky

What became of youngness

turned cartwheels into Eternity

Before we were Eternity
our inheritance was innocence

time spooned out too few
for us to remain,
the tie too loose gathering fray

We swept what little grains we could
before inheriting the Globe

The hurt young man that asked so much of us,
took no more than life

We are turning cartwheels in Eternity

Hear our laughs behind white clouds

Twenty souls that returned Home

Sing a song of little
little frames, we flew as petals
winding back, we returned
to our native land, we succeeded to
happiness

There are rivers now, unending

Trees that reach higher than sky

Do not wait for us
Do not cry
We have already arrived

We are going of a kind unimagined
wing upon wing
breath upon breath
capturing light, our flight is above you
in Heaven

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12 Responses to “Twenty Little Souls in Heaven”

  1. jser67 January 18, 2013 at 6:42 pm #

    This piece was somber, yet light at the same time.It made me think of the John Irving line in Hotel New Hampshire: “Sorrow floats”. You wrote”Do not cry for us…..we have arrived”~ what a fitting line. Beautiful; as it everything I’ve read of yours so far.

    Reply
    • maryamchahine January 18, 2013 at 9:32 pm #

      Thanks so much for your wonderful words on my poem : )

      Reply
  2. parmis rad January 18, 2013 at 11:35 pm #

    So vivid, so delicate, so compassionate … Maryam this is beautiful and I’m a little choked up.

    Reply
    • maryamchahine January 19, 2013 at 10:13 am #

      Thanks for the wonderful words on my poem, Parmis : )

      I had very strong feelings as I wrote this, and I’m glad that it affected you in such a way.

      Reply
  3. Julie January 19, 2013 at 10:43 pm #

    This is a very beautiful poem. It just brings me to tears.

    Reply
    • maryamchahine January 20, 2013 at 7:11 am #

      Thanks kindly Julie : ) I’m very moved by your comment. It’s amazing that this poem took less than a day to write, but it has connected with more readers than my other poems, some of which took months to write. It came deeply from the heart of what I was feeling for those children and I’m glad it went into the hearts of others.

      Thanks as always for reading :)

      Reply
  4. mybestreads January 20, 2013 at 9:08 pm #

    Maryam, I loved your poem on the tragedy of the lost children. I am a passionate Christian and in the light of all the negative publicity about extreme Muslim violence and terrorism it is wonderful to have my bias modified by your beautiful words. Jesus said, “you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free”, (The New Testament, John, chapter 8 vs 32.) I love Truth wherever I find it and the truth in your words has indeed set me free a little today. Thank you, Andrew

    Reply
    • maryamchahine January 21, 2013 at 7:05 am #

      Thanks for your very kind words, Andrew! It brought a smile to my heart. I’m glad this poem was able to connect with you. I wrote it from sorrow, but at the end of it there was peace as those beautiful little souls are enjoying the most beautiful peace in Heaven.

      Thanks so much for your comment and sharing that verse from the Bible. It is absolutely true.

      Peace

      Reply
      • mybestreads January 21, 2013 at 8:20 am #

        Thanks Maryam,
        May God’s love and peace rest on you always,
        Andrew

      • maryamchahine January 22, 2013 at 8:30 pm #

        Thanks so much, Andrew! And the same and more to you, too : )

  5. ModWestMuse February 9, 2013 at 7:57 pm #

    From behind every sorrow, we must with peace (salaam) stride with patience (sabr) stand in front. Your words were tearful mixed with hope. Beautiful imagery.

    Reply
    • maryamchahine February 10, 2013 at 6:25 pm #

      Jazzaka Allahu Khayr for the wonderfully poetic comment! Your words are very true about salaam and sabr. These innocent children died violently, but they are at beautiful peace now. This poem has a special place in my heart, and I’m glad that it has connected with you.

      Reply

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