This poem by junior Adbul-Nafea Syed was selected as a topical winner for the “My Word” issue of the Live Poets Society of New Jersey and was published in their Fall 2015 issue. Congratulations!
Family Affairs
Violence is the trouble child.
As Mother Humanity tends to the delinquent’s playground wounds,
Father Fate wags his finger at him.
He feels invincible.
But tucked away in that little house of cards
Sits Peace, gazing at her spelling bee trophies as she strums her violin mindlessly.
Her achievements are all framed but forgotten.
One day she will have to make bail for her brother
She knows that she would be the only one in her family to amount to anything
Who knows where her older brother Order is.
Probably off with his girlfriend Chaos
Smoking cigarettes in a New York alleyway Blood heavy with alcohol
And disappointment.
Peace knew that her mother loved her
Brother more. Regardless of his report card or grade school fights,
Without him, she would be nothing
Yes, She admits it and begins to play.
Who in the world can see a solution for a problem that isn’t there?
Without his din, her melody wouldn’t sound nearly as sweet