The sun kept on sinking with a rich orange,
beneath the deserted floor of sand.
And I kept lying on the hot sand.
Little by little, night showered her back hair through the sky.
It grew colder. My worn out clothes could not keep me safe.
With darkness is danger. I live with fear, and sadness.
I weep when I walk through the deserted land, and I weep when I sleep.
No food, no shelter or love.
I am lonely. My only comfort is seeing the stars.
I cannot find others in my tribe and mama and papa.
I walk in this deserted land day and night.
Although it is harsh, although it is cold, and although it is lonely,
I will try to find mama and papa. They can see the same sky as I can. I will keep hanging onto hope, and the stars will shine.
But suddenly I felt a warm hand touching my back. And as I turned, I saw a face with eyes filled with tears.
It was mama.
[Meaning= How an African child refugee finds his mom]
Diyaana Subasinghe,
Grade 11,
Leeds International School, Maharagama.