Aljanat fi Alkharab ("Heaven in Ruins")

By Selam Weimer
11th grade, Woodrow Wilson High School, DC

After Moises Saman's photo in "Iraq's Post-ISIS Campaign of Revenge" by Ben Taub

Anonymous being runs through the rubble street
The fog muffles the water in violent silence
Half demolished staircases, leading to half demolished heaven
The ruins of the city's soul on display

The phantoms of the past collide with the angels of the future
Painted with a wink of white in the present

The afterlife tastes of the ashes of deja vu
The promise of peace always an echo away
The afterlife tastes of the ashes of deja vu

"Old City" dies up to its name
A diamond of history
Pressure forever present
Temperature at all time high

Truth brought to surface by eruption
Unexploded bombs and unexploded dreams
Refugees pregnant with anxiety
Fear of tomorrow more paralyzing than trauma of today
A time bomb triggered
Numbers blurred
Silent breath under water
In pursuit of a heartbeat

Timeless tension of ascent and freefall
What was, obliterated
What IS IS

The questions are asked, after the bullet's released
All are suspect and the enemy
Victim of politics plus tears of the paradox
Resistance equals death

Labeled by the world as collateral damage
Mourned by the voiceless as martyrs

Anonymous being runs through the rubble street
The fog muffles the water in violent silence
Half demolished staircases, leading to half demolished heaven
The ruins of the city's soul on display

Selam Weimer is a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School. This is her first year as a member of the Motley Society Poetry Club at her school. She loves soccer and cultural events.

Read more winning entries from the Beyond Religion Poetry Contest