MUZNAH SH FARAH - BRISTOL, UNITED KINGDOM - AGE 16
“I write poetry from time to time however my main focus is stories/novels. Whilst I'm a bit too busy with school to write a full-blown novel yet, I am currently working on a historical fiction following the story of a young poet in ancient Iraq named Yahya, and his scientist friend who grows up to become the father of optics!”
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4.36 LIGHT YEARS AWAY
I was too far away in seconds.
Wheels against the rails,
Rhythmic.
Tugging me gently away from home, but no.
I was released too easily
To allow me the thought that someone would
Possibly miss my voiceless presence.
And now here I was, posed under the great
Shadow that was Brown University.
The yard was empty, at that unfriendly hour.
Bare but for the glowing orbs
Of the creature in the faraway ferns,
With the autumn-orange fur and the gentle gaze that said:
‘We won’t let you go as easily.’
‘Promise.’
And like the fool I was, I believed it.
Brushing snow off a bench and sitting on the damp,
locking eyes with the majestic thing.
The image of mysticism, it caught the strings of my heart
And played them like a harp -
Soft, and the melody drifted
Right into my mind.
Melted away the bitter frost of my memories.
Thinking of the place
I used to call home.
I cowered into the armour of my trench coat,
Allowed the scent of the frozen earth beneath my feet
To become my anchor. The stars in that particular patch of sky
Called out my name. Told me where I was even though
I already knew. Except, as it turns out, I had no clue.
The train ticket said Providence.
The stars swore that I was already home,
And,
Like the fool I was,
I believed them.