Humanizing Poetry (a poem)

I was sitting under the stars,

and watching their reflection in the lake.

I listened to the water's sounds hitting the rocks, 

and observed the space around me closely.

Looking at both of my sides,

poetry took me by surprise.

I found her sitting next to me all that time.

So I shifted from the meteors and looked at her,

but the sight was not so different 

because shooting stars were falling from her eyes.

 I had to do something.

I ought to do something.

She was always there for me as a human

in times of love, war, happiness, and misery. 

I asked her about the reason behind her misty eyes.

She told me she feels neglected, 

and humans have forgotten about her; 

How they chase money like they used to run after poems

How pleasure corrupted their hearts instead of love

How wars became the fuel on Earth alternating words…

And her words became

rusted, useless, and dead. 

She felt betrayed by us 

for standing by our side in all our gloomy nights,

yet no one came to rescue her from the jaws of death.

And the flowers behind me weep

because they are scared of wilting

since poetry said their beauty is immortal.

And the moon refused to show up again;

Not being admired, she thinks, is immoral.

Written by: Menna Badawy

Edited by: Sania Khan and Judy Khaled