Yasmina Poem by Steve Wheeler

The war has been quite terrible
The explosions have been bad
The destruction in our village
Has made everyone so sad

Papa says we're very poor
And I'm much too small to know
But I have a little friend
Who follows me wherever I go

She always listens, lends her ears
Though I can't see where they are
Yasmina is a perfect friend
For this boy from Syria

Ahmed tells me that I'm wrong
And Ibrahim agrees
But I believe that Yasmina
Is the best friend I'll ever see

They laugh at me when I tell
About my friendly little hen
And they're jealous of her attention
But Yasmina's my best friend

Yasmina always listens
And she clucks and pecks at worms
As I tell her of my worries
And discuss all my concerns

Yasmina knows me very well
In her I'll put my trust
I can tell her all my secrets
As she's pecking in the dust

She used to leave her eggs for me
I would find them in the pen
The next day she would lay some more
And I'd have eggs for dinner again

She's been getting older lately
And it's not often now she lays
It's also fair to say her feathers
Have seen far better days

But I love my friend Yasmina
She's the greatest company
I can talk to her for hours
And she will never laugh at me

Tonight's my birthday party
Now I've reached the age of three
But I haven't seen Yasmina yet
And that's a mystery

I haven't seen my little friend
Since yesterday for sure
The yard outside is empty
She doesn't answer when I call

When dinner's done I will look for her
And tell her of my birthday treat
How for the first time in ages
Our family had chicken to eat

© Steve Wheeler 2021