Home Away From Home Poem by jerine james

HOME AWAY FROM HOME



Bells rang loud and clear
Rubbed my eyes and lined up as though, in an army floor
Saw my little brother sob and weep for mom
Heart broken and felt crushed upon

Helplessly looked around, vengeance crammed
Pushed the matron against the wall
You DARE not touch him: I said
No friends to converse out to, no folks to sob out to


Walked down the hall way
Food was prepared since age
Cold and frozen
Gulped it down the throat
Puked it all out

Empty stomach I went to class
Exhausted and worn out could not pay attention
Professors educated and explained
Many topics and subjects
All seemed mind-numbing and unclear.

Evening tea brought some zeal
Warm water bath, freshen me up
Strolled around the high fenced wall
Where world out side couldn’t be seen


Matron yelled and screamed: GET BACK.. IT’S STUDY TIME
All faces frowned,
Lined up to their particular places.

As the hours rolled by, all eyes would fall on the clock
Waited for the final bell so as to bid farewell to studies for the day
Waited for dinner –bland and neutral.

Time of relaxation was felt when the clock struck 10pm
Dormitories would be filled with lots of clatter



Me alone in the corner- thought and dreamt of my parents and other beautiful things of home sweet home
Consoled my self – All will be fine.


Nothing was cheery or thoughtful about it
No excitements, no ecstasies
All was grey and dark
Like the dungeons in the stories
Life was just so despondent.

Words can’t explain what I felt
Hated my world around me
Thought my parents didn’t love me.


No day light or moonlight ever shone
No proper food to eat
Everything was rotten and stale
Punished and whacked for any small mistakes.


With silent tears all over my face I would fall asleep
All is there still – memory
Home away from Home.





Jerine Charles (Jan 28th 09)

(Memories whilst in a boarding school during the IRAQ-KUWAIT WAR)