MUSLIM HALL

Some little things 
Walking along the path, 
My eyes got caught by the 
Sight of a wheelbarrow 
Leaning against the garden fence, 
A bunch of ragworts trying 
To peek through the narrow space  
between the plastic bowl 
and the wooden fence, 
Bright smiles on their faces,
final defiance to say  
“We are still alive” 
Though suppressed, and 
about to be cast into the green bin. 
Afternoon sun brightly 
Echoes their voice in the air. 

I was startled 
By their brilliance and  
Their outspoken honesty. 
Smile as long as you are alive. 

The wheelbarrow  
tries to hold the flowers  
With his life  
Not to let go of their beauty 
Weary of age, rusty and torn apart 
Flattened tyre – the wheelbarrow  
Squashing the ragworts  
Like a mother keeping her child 
Safe from the predators. 

I was surprised by their courage - 
Not being afraid or  
Tired of carrying the heavyweight 
of flowers, as soft and gentle as cotton candy, 
Leaning against the fence,  
Hugging each other to face the final  
Destiny together. 

I ponder on the  
the weight that I have carried 
all along, can they be any heavier  
than the burdened souls that  
had passed long before my existence 

Do I have the courage to  
Hold my loved ones within the perimeters of my arms 
Against the storm brewing.  

I was walking along the garden path 
And the story of a wheelbarrow and
A bunch of ragworts caught my eyes 
I was surprised by their love story.