Blog → April 24, 2019

Oh you Ocean: Rahim's poem

Hamed walking with his family

My name is Rahim. I am from Afghanistan, in Kabul. I have an MA in international relations and diplomacy from Kabul University. I worked with the US Army as an interpreter. When the American troops left Afghanistan, the lives of all the interpreters were in danger. We were very well known, and many times we were threatened by the Taliban. That’s why I decided to leave Afghanistan.

Oh you Ocean, give us love..
Look what has happened to us..
Do not run the waves against us..
We the refugees, We swear our cause is sad..
Oh, you would not believe, but our tears can drown you so much we cried..
We accepted all people and were kind and loving toward them, but when we fell, everyone betrayed everyone of us..
No one is crying for us..
Oh, today the whole world failed us..
Oh you Ocean, make your waves calm, there are children in this boat which are our memories and our lives are still in this boat..
I swear, our tears could fill all the seas in the world, and all our children’s childhood is gone in your waves and it kills our children, lives and hopes..
Oh you Ocean, let your waves have pity on us and be crying like a mother..
Oh Ocean, let us have peace..
We only want peace and now, we will go to get some peace.

Today Rahim volunteers with Their Story is Our Story to help gather and share the stories of others who have been forced to flee, to reveal the individuals behind the “refugee” label and cultivate meaningful relationships with those seeking refuge locally so that, together, we can help build strong and inclusive communities worldwide.

Read Rahim’s full story.


Help today

Share refugee stories online and in life amongst your friends and colleagues to help challenge misconceptions and misunderstandings about refugees to aid integration and acculturation in communities.

Donate to Their Story is Our Story (TSOS) so that we can continue sharing refugees’ personal stories to break down down barriers and help prevent social isolation, unemployment, unsafe housing and poverty amongst refugee newcomers.


Image credit: ©TSOS/Christophe Mortier

Other Posts

Voices of Resilience: 3 Afghani Refugees Use Their Professions to Make a Better World

This month marks the three year anniversary of the fall of Kabul. When the city fell, many were forced to flee their homes. Women who had careers, women who dreamed of careers, and women who lifted their voices to fight for equal rights were some of those most at risk. To America’s great benefit, some of these women landed in the US.

August 14, 2024

My First Asylum Case: An Attorney's Perspective on Asylum in the United States

I took my first asylum case in 2016, when our national dialog on immigration took a decidedly negative turn. As a corporate attorney, I had no experience in immigration law, but my license allowed me to represent individuals fleeing severe persecution and I signed with a local non-profit to offer my help. My first asylum client was a young mother and her two small daughters. I could see myself in Saba.

April 14, 2024

Their Story is Our Story Applauds the Signing of Virginia House Bill 995 and Continues Efforts to Open Doors for Foreign-trained Medical Professionals in Other States

Their Story is Our Story (TSOS), a non-profit organization that collects and shares the experiences of refugees to deepen understanding and influence action, applauds the signing of Virginia House Bill 995 into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin, after its unanimous passage through the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. It will create a pathway for foreign-trained doctors who have immigrated to the state, including those whose careers were interrupted by forcible displacement, to fill workforce gaps in medically underserved communities.

April 11, 2024
Add Impact to Your Inbox
Sign up for our emails to get inspiring stories and updates delivered straight to you.
Subscribe
© 2024 Their Story is Our Story Privacy Policy
Their Story is Our Story is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization under the United States Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible. Our tax identification number is 812983626.