Aylan’s Story

By Abdul Rahman Latif

One day little Aylan went out to play.
He got on his tippy toes for some ballet.

His brother Galip said, “Hey let’s pretend!”
So Aylan was a vet saving a hen.

Galip was an astronaut seeking the stars,
While Aylan became a mechanic fixing race cars.

Galip was a teacher dropping some knowledge,
While Aylan became dean of some big college.

They were actors and engineers, anything their imagination could see,
Till Galip asked, “Aylan if you were anything, what would you be?”

“I’d be home with you, mommy and daddy,” Aylan said and smiled.
Then he laughed because the best job in the world is to be a child.

“I miss home a lot,” Galip said with a frown.
“This new place is alright but it doesn’t feel like our town.”

“Mommy and Daddy are sad here,” he added.
Aylan agreed, his heart heavy, no longer gladdened.

Daddy came by to pick them up in a great hurry,
They didn’t even stop to eat sosi merishek curry.

“We are going to board a boat and escape this mess,”
He paused, “I’m worried though, I must confess.”

“We’ll sail to Canada, land of the free,”
“All on our little ship made out of a tree.”

“An adventure!” Aylan thought, very excited.
Mom moved slowly though, eyes farsighted.

They were cramped on the tiny ship,
Possessions banging against their hips.

“Uh-oh I’m sea sick,” Aylan began to exclaim,
“This isn’t fun like I thought, not a game.”

He touched his face and felt water by his eyes.
Not tears but cruel rain from the mad skies.

The captain screamed. Arms flailing, he jumped overboard.
Daddy grabbed the wheel nervously, and prayed to his lord.

The boat flipped over, the whole family fell into the sea.
Aylan looked to the sky, and asked: is this what I need to be free?

Everyone washed up on shore.
Motionless, life a closed door.

Only daddy survived the wreck and cried out.
Little Aylan in heaven shook at his shout.

People shared pictures of the boy on the beach.
Never again to smile, laugh, or teach.

People say you’re not old enough to hear about death.
But Aylan also wasn’t old enough to lose all breath.

I know you may be crying. I think I am too.
Why did no one send a ferry, a plane, a rescue crew?

Why did they need to run and flee at all?
Why did home become an unsafe sprawl?

Aylan’s story is not unique in the least.
And he is human not a monstrous beast.

People reject little kids who are just like him.
Because they lost their home at Daaesh’s whim.

Make sure everyone knows Aylan was a kid same as you.
Because change begins when humanity comes to the rescue.