I was there

I was there,first i felt afraid then i was a King,a very happy king "
I was there today, to the shelter for orphan
I have been giving support like money and clothes
But then I said I would visit this place to see am I doing any good
I knew that orphanage are parted into two sections one for males harboring 25 kids
The other part for females also the same number
I was curious we never had shelter for orphans only through the last years
We are a rich country you know so we never needed these places
So I was determined to see...to know what’s going on, who is there
Kids who suddenly lost father and mother and left homeless
Kids who have families but they can not afford to pay for their foods and clothing so they put them there
Or families with many kids but very little to offer they force their children brutally to leave home. So they end here
I reached there, I bought lots of food for 25 creatures, chocolates and the kind kids no more than 6 years old would like to have
I reached there. I was stunned. The building was O.k. went inside the corridor looked horrible...it was like prison
I came to a room where there were lots of shouts and crying...they saw suddenly everything was quiet
I said hello. They looked at me. Not a whisper...ten one child no more than 4 years began to cry...he was frightened
They told me he was always like that when he sees strangers...
And I went along to the kitchen with a lady... I had lots of work to do
I had to arrange everything...to ensure everyone received a full meal...the lady kept watching me...she seems stunned
She thought I was crazy. Leaving my work and come here and act like a cook for 25 mouths...
I did not care for her...I was so busy it’s not easy to prepare a meal for 25 mouths...
Each now and then I would see some small faces stealing a look at me from the open door...
Snickering and laughing. I did not mind...I was busy preparing food for 25 mouths
Then I suddenly turned around and saw the doorway full with small creatures in tattered clothes
Looking strangely at me...but strange they were at peace they even smiled at me...I could almost see joy on these faces
I was overwhelmed; I could not take my eyes from them. I forgot everything about my cooking...
We stayed there for a while each looking at the other. So many I saw them...
I said anybody hungry...they all nodded that they are starving...I turned my face to the window so they don’t see my face
For at that time...my face was a mess...I did not want them to see me...I was afraid of them...
I thought I would also give them courage and hope of a better tomorrow. But I was wrong
They gave me a lesson about courage. As if telling me...who cares about hunger...we can stay like that for days
I could not turn my eyes to face them. For a while I thought they were all my kids. I was shivering now
Very embarrassed, then I turned to them. My eyes to the ground...I gathered all my courage, and called for them
Come each sit here and eat, they came running, all of a sudden I was surrounded by small creatures...they were so happy
I felt at that time happiness I never in my life knew before, God...how lovely is life...oh God thank you for bringing me here
oh I have the honor to bring so much joy... I was a king...I swear that’s how I felt...I was a king...a very happy king

Author's Note

his was written in haste

Reviews

[R J Askew]

A wonderful piece of writing as it is a piece of life rendered into words. There is none of our western winging and self-obsession here, no intellecual toying with words and metaphysical sallies into fantasies. What we have is a humbling experience, an act of charity which is moving. But there is an even more moving part, being the way you capture your own, far stronger sense of the moment's drama -- again that word, drama. We sense the fear of the children. We suspect why they are afraid and what the might have suffered. There is the dumbfounded astonishment of the woman. Maybe we are a bit like her. Not quite believing what we see, in this case read. But of course is is true. And the turning away... It is as if some emotional grenade goes off, slowly, in you, as you are seeing the pain of your own country in those little faces, each one of which has stories behind it. The orphanage is a concentration of stories. And then the understandable sadness is followed by an extraordinary elatiton. 'Here we are, things are not so bad, we are alive, let's get on with it. Let us make the best of this.' And you do. We manufacture dreams and distractions and shallow happinesses in the West, but you found a very real and deep human happiness in those moments. What a joke that there has to be such pain all round before we get to such moments though. Life the great joker. With death standing on. One can almost imagine them asking each other, 'What shall we do next?'

[Poetic82]

This was beautiful. It brought tears to my eyes. At that moment you understand why God placed us here on earth to serve. Because at no other moment in life can you be so full than in knowing you did not waste that minute you gave of yourself heart and soul and you were appreciated. Bravo...thanks for this...

[Deborah Leah Krempa]

A beautiful heartfelt poem. Wonderfully expressed. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

[bluessadmood]

sometimes we just run crazy after life..after happiness..see how much we can get out of it..how much we can be loved
how much people will look at us and say ..hey look how great he is ..success happy everything..what more can he want..
he has the whole world in his hands..how beautiful ..how wonderful he is ..how can i get there
why is life never on my side ..why do i have to suffer more and more..when will life ever smile to me..will i be ever happy..
And i say its very simple..to be pleased with yourself ..smile at yourself..find peace with your self..
you want to be loved ..want to be happy..want to laugh ..enjoy your life
start from your inside yourself all these you get..searching inside your soul..happiness ..joy and content..is inside you
look deep..once you find peace happiness ..content with yourself ..like an inner peace..then you will find everything smiling at you
love will be every where ..so beautiful you will look..so wonderful..
this is one way i found real love inside me..real happiness..thats what i did here

[emmajoy]

You have a heart of gold, you have the soul of a true diamond.

Sometimes it's not a roof, nor food, not clothes that are important, but, the knowledge that you are loved. You showed that love to those little children.

May the Creator keep you safe always so that your days are filled with moments of reflection and, your nights give you the strength to continue with your wonderful acts.

[Wondering Mind]

Although your note says that "this was written in haste" there is the quality of pure sincerity in the content.
Many of those children, if not all of them will have a memory of you, some will grow up to tell the tale of the example of compassion you've given them.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

In giving, we often receive more ourselves. Feeding the hunger in a soul through a little human kindness reaps rewards far greater than gold. If this story is based in truth, I honor you. If it's the result of your imagination, I honor you. Either way, I honor you.

Linda Marie Van Tassell

[An Ordinary Woman]

Yes it is a lovely story, very touching. We do all share a little of the responsibility sometimes. A great write, friend.

[Velveteen Rabbit]

"I could not turn my eyes to face them.
For a while I thought they were all my kids"
...those are the strongest lines in the whole story--oh, what if everyone thought of orphans as their own kids? you said you felt like a king...what riches, true riches you've found! Such precious thoughts.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this story; it's beautiful, vulnerable, and moving. Going in my favorites!!!

[Helena]

This was such a heartfelt and touching story. I absolutely loved it Moayad.
The imagery was vivid and the words enthralling and poignant.


"Oh, I have the honor to bring so much joy...I was a king...I swear that's how I felt...I
was a king...a very happy king."

Oh how true are those wonderful lines are. In helping others we can indeed
obtain the status of a "King" or "Queen"

This write is going into my favorites my friend, simply beautiful!

Helena

[darkgurl]

This really struck a nerve in me or should I say cord, it really tugged at my heart and soul, sad as well as gripping truth, This is beautiful as well as inspiring really, well written write......Kim