Still I Smile
By Mohammad Erfun Amin

Once, my life was perfect,
Filled with hope, dreams,
With laughter and delight,
Full of love and fire inside.

They denied my studies,
Restricted my movement,
Reduced my dwelling,
Still I smile, still I smile.

They tortured my brothers,
And raped my sisters,
Took my parents away,
Still I smile, still I smile.

Devastated my home,
My people were persecuted,
Forced to flee my land,
Still I smile, still I smile.

Rendered me homeless,
And left me hopeless,
Labeled me a refugee,
But still I smile and smile.

Surviving in the camp,
After lossing everything,
Still I smile, still I inspire,
That's me, a Rohingya.

One day, I'll rise from ashes,
I'll rebuild my life from rubble,
From the darkest of nights,
Then, I'll rise, soar and fly.

-

Resilience Through the Storms

I feel genocide—
and Palestinians' pain
as a Rohingya.

I inhale hope—
and exhale the fear of war
as a Refugee.

I seek peace—
and a place to call home
as a Survivor.

-

As a Rohingya Refugee Survivor 

I feel genocide—
and Palestinians' pain
as a Rohingya 

I inhale hope—
and exhale fear of war
as a Refugee 

I seek peace—
and a place call home
as a Survivor 

-

Poetry's true PhD lies in the heart's passion, not the parchment on the wall; for in the dance of words, it's the spirit that leads, not the degrees.

-

Forced to flee, then became refugees,
Our lives torn apart, caught in unease.
We must mark this day, remember well,
"Genocide Remembrance," stories to tell.

As tears fall from my anguished eyes,
I yearn for justice beneath the skies.
Repatriation with security's embrace,
An international effort, a safe place.

Humanity's betrayed by those in power,
A world aware of this grim hour.
Let's stand against this flawed decree,
And remember Rohingya's plea.

-

Haiku

rain relentless, rolls,
refugees rouse, raze respite,
roofless, rain remains

-

Joyful heart cherishes
kind blessings of life gratefully.

-

Senryū

twenty-sixth July,
tiny hands reach for crawling
joyous milestone met

-

blooming kindness,
nurturing hearts
and sowing
the gardens of
empathy across
the world.

-

Cinquan

son—
cute, adorable
charming, pleasing, caring
apple of my eyes
forever...

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