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Alan

by Mike Acker

Angry or placid, she can never know
the power of her grip. As hard as she tried
to treat gently this child who had fallen
into her arms, even her calmest moves
sufficed to drown his little soul.

As though she were acting out of mercy
and regret, she held him tenderly and,
with the slightest of waves, pushed him
as closely as she knew how, to where
he once belonged.

Alan Kurdi
Alan Kurdi, age 3, whose brother and mother
also perished on the way to Kos.
The Turkish soldier is praying
as he goes to pick him up.

Copyright © 2015 by Mike Acker

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