Beneath the Courage by Raahima Waseem

BENEATH THE COURAGE

I look up from the ground

To see you on board

All teary-eyed, not wanting to let go

The times we had together

Full of both, melancholy and laughter

Never should have I let you go

To the place that could cause you disaster

Salute to all those men in green

Standing rigid and crisp for our sovereignty not to bleed

Climbing up mountains, loading their guns

Shooting on the other side until the enemy’s done

I like to see you in peace, not bloodshed and violence

Your body all numb and face all weary and tired

Not knowing if the next family dinner would be by his coffin;

Or the dining room table

‘Daddy’ I sob as I bid him farewell

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Intrigued by the fantasy that books hold and take you on a magical journey of different perspectives, crossing the barriers of time and space, Raahima Waseem is a student of Grade X-G who believes reading and writing is the best stress buster; and of course, a cup of coffee too! Raahima has an artistic mind and also shows interest in world affairs and sharing her views through debating and Model UNs.

Raahima’s piece of art, “Beneath the Courage” is inspired by the heartbreaking stories of military families, in specific it highlights the bond between a soldier and his daughter and how she craves but is not assured of her father’s return after a dangerous posting. To the world, these families might seem strong but beneath all this strength and courage as the title suggests, there are a lot of tears, prayers and heartbreaks for them to witness.

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Cover Photo by Sameer Akhtari on Unsplash