A Place In My Heart

"A Place In My Heart"      . 

There's a place in my heart that flashes times long past.  

Those who aided me along my path to who I am.         

Eyes clear, heart open, ever embracing all souls... 

I remember Ahmad and his wife, ー from Ramallah ー

Fatima and spouse invited me for tea, we talked...

It was a homy atmosphere... and we talked of life!

When my time to leave came, they beg of me, "Please, stay!"

I remember Mohammad from Ismailia... ah,

He was so courteous, inviting me for dinner!...

He and his lovely wife lived in one room... "a castle

Of  love in the realms of kindness", I thought it was!

Ah, the Bedouin who taught me to ride a camel...

I remember his smile when he passed me his rifle, 

Asking me to point to the sky and pull the trigger… 

The nomad in Iraq, offering me "his home's 

Hospitality"... It's a hut ー floored with silk carpets 

In the desert; ー surrounded by sand, in an extension 

That could hypnotize one just by staring at it! 

He had a sheep... pointed the sable to his neck...

They all laughed when I piously cried out, "Please, don't!"

We were fed that evening on dried figs, and nuts!  

A Turkish family that found me when I was

Lost out in the outskirt of Dogubayazit... 

I remember how they took me into the mountains,   

And fed me goat's cheese, yogurt, and sorted dried fruits!

I never forgot the "little soldier" in Basra; 

A boy waiting for me daily... Rifle in hand... 

"Protection he claimed"; with laughters and lollipops!

In Iran dressed as a local ー from head to toes; ー

How the secret police followed me... I remember

The Iranian people always protecting me!   

I could write scrolls on the sweet souls I met in life, 

Who embraced me, and made me who I am today...    

They were kind lights that made me know the human's grace!

  

There is a part of me with them as I have theirs    

In the live memory of my life... ー my sole treasure, ー

And I'll keep myself rich, for I remember them!

© ー Carol Phelan Aebby 

Reviews

[Workvio]

A beautifully written piece that sends a much needed message of who people are in the simplicity of their real lives in meeting folks like you and opening their hearts and homes to you in ways that the Media will never go out of their way to report ...

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Carol for sharing the journey and being thankful for the kind people.
"There is a part of me with them as I have theirs
In the live memory of my life... ー my sole treasure, ーAnd I'll keep myself rich, for I remember them!"
I do like the above lines. We must remember the kind people and return the karma. Be kind to strangers needing help. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Alfred Kukitz]

Your ink made of soul
Your story transcends time and space
You are writing from the deepest well.

Regards,
Al

[alifeacoustic]

Perfect memories of perfect people and times. Beautifully captured. Thank you for sharing.

[Lizardo]

Wow, I could picture this so vividly in my head.
This is a great poem and a great message, Very good
Keep up the good work!

[Olivia]

You are a really talented writer.
This piece has a very nice flow and rhythm.
I love the last stanza.

[Roshan Nair]

This is a lovely piece Carol, a very intimate telling of a grateful experience. I understand what you mean by such hospitality and amicable nature, these people are unique and I hope the world someday gets to experience this wonder too. Great write again.. this one seemed so real when I read it, creating near environments of the places where thee people were encountered..Cheers! :)