Alaha Ahrar World Poetry Youth Team Member from Afghanstan!

Alaha & Dr. Mary

 Ariadne’s note: “On behalf of World Poetry Canada & International,we want to welcome Alaha to our wonderful World Poetry Youth Team which is being built to spread the concepts of respect, honour, love and peace to the world. We are honoured to have her on our strong team of young poets.
 We are fortunate to be in Canada where our  World Poetry Society is welcomed by so many people and groups.
Our  love and good wishes go out to the youth of Afghanistan who will be working with World  Poetry to create dignity and peace.”

Ariadne Sawyer MA, President of the World Poetry Reading Series Society,

Here is the letter from Alaha:

Dearest Ariadne Sawyer hello,

“Thank you very much for all your hard work and for connecting and encouraging peace and unity worldwide. I admit that I lack enough words to express my acknowledgements and gratitude to the International World Poetry, Canada.

My full name is Sajia Alaha Ahrar, but everyone knows and calls me Alaha Ahrar. I am an international student from Kabul, Afghanistan at the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia. I am a triple major student. I am majoring in Human Rights, Political Sciences and International Affairs and I am also going to obtain the Middle Eastern Studies Certificate.

On May 14, 2011, International World Poetry, Canada, recognized me as the Youth Poet for Afghanistan and the United States and also as the Ambassador of Youth and Peace for Afghanistan. Now, as an Ambassador of Afghan youth and women I would love to thank the International World Poetry, Canada, especially Mrs. Ariadne Sawyer for recognizing and supporting Afghanistan’s writing and poetry.

Canada has been helping and supporting Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. However, this extraordinary wonderful work of International World Poetry, introduced the moral supports and kind intentions of Canadians and Canada, to Afghanistan and Afghans.

This wonderful action of International World Poetry Canada proved that instead of guns, Canadians are supporting pen and peace in Afghanistan. Now Afghans acknowledge that, these types of supports of Canadians encourage Afghans to value and discover Canadian’s values and urge Afghans to reply their love with love.

It is true that Afghanistan was ruined and Afghans suffered a lot due to decades of war, most Afghans lost their houses, their loved ones and their assets but the only thing, which always remained alive among the nation of Afghanistan, is the love of their richest culture, poetry and literature.”

فتخار انسانیت در چیست؟

ای جوانان فهیم ای قــشر بیدار وطــن

علم آموزید که علم است زینت هر مرد و زن

عالم و فرزانه زیستن افتخار آدمیست

عصر علم است هوشدار بی علم نتوان زیستن

قشر جاهل کرد ویران میهنت را این چنین

تو بعلم آباد بسازش بشنو از من این سخن

چشم امید وطن سوی شماست ! نسل جوان

تا بــسازید مـیهــن ویرانه را باغ و چمن

صلح و امن آرید به کشور! وحدت و همبستگی

تا همه هم میهنان باشند بهم یک جسم وتن

التـــجــا دارد (الـــهـــه) از خـــداونـــــد بـــزرگ

جای نفرت عشق ببارد جای جنگ صلح در وطن

با احترام،

سجیه الهه (احرار)

Instead of Hate, May Love Rain Down

O knowledgeable youth, O awakened generation of this land
Seek knowledge, for it is a decoration for men and women,
Living with knowledge and wisdom is humanity’s pride
It is the era of knowledge, be aware! For one cannot live in ignorance.
The ignorant ruined your country to this extent.
You can rebuild it with knowledge. Listen to me!
Your country’s hopeful eyes are drawn toward you, O youth.
So that you may make a garden & prairie from this desolate desert.
Bring peace and security to the country! Unity and cooperation,
So that all countrymen be one body, one soul.
Alaha begs the All Mighty.
Instead of hate, may love rain down, and instead of war, peace.

Best regards,

Alaha Ahrar ©

* This poem will be read on the radio as an e-poem at 9:30 pm PST on the World Poetry Cafe Radio Show, CFRO. You can listen at www.coopradio.org

Alaha Ahrar, youth poet