Oh you Ocean: Rahim's poem

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
Voice Your Support for Afghan Adjustment
The Afghan Adjustment (AA) has been reintroduced in both the House (H.R.4627) and the Senate (S.2327) of the United States by a bipartisan group of legislators. We invite you to join us in honoring our promise to our Afghan allies by urging your representatives to pass the Afghan Adjustment!
Connecting Communities Through Sponsorship Circles: “Navigating With Humor”
We interviewed Elizabeth Gregg as part of our World Refugee Day event. Elizabeth was first connected with the refugee cause through a Facebook post. One of her friends was creating a sponsor circle for the influx of refugees coming to their community of Seattle, WA. After deciding that participation was possible for their family, Elizabeth got involved.
How Refugee Baby Showers Connected a Community: Do Great Things With Fear and Humility
As part of our World Refugee Day Event, we had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Uzma Jafri. She fills many roles, including physician, business owner, medical director, and most importantly, mother of four. It was during the first few months of her fourth child’s life when Dr. Jafri became interested in refugees. During the countless sleepless nights that accompany newborns, Dr. Jafri would watch coverage of the Syrian refugee crisis. Dr. Jafri felt a pull to help those in the crisis.