Ames Australia Winner: “Threads of Belonging: A Tapestry of Refuge and Resilience”
A Poem by Wida Tausif
Wida Tausif, Early Childhood Educator at Glen Chelsea Kindergarten, has recently won the Ames Australia’s Heartland Art Project for 2023. This award reflects on the themes of homeland and belongings.
This poem was Wida's winning piece.
The project is linked to Wida's initiative in teaching children about cultural diversity and developing literacy skills, particularly story telling. We are so proud of all you have achieved Wida!
“Threads of Belonging: A Tapestry of Refuge and Resilience”
In the heart of turmoil, where chaos holds sway,
A saga of drifting souls, their destinies in play.
Through shattered hopes and homes, they flee,
From distant lands, in search of sanctuary.
Homeland's memory, carried on a breeze,
Fading as conflict's flames dance and tease.
On foreign shores, their footsteps trace,
Leaving behind a world, a familiar place.
Belonging beckons, a star in the night,
Guiding their quest for a haven's light.
In crowded camps, their spirits remain,
A flame of hope, amidst hardship's strain.
They stand as the brave, the resolute, the bold,
Bearing stories of struggles, tales untold.
Faces marked by sorrow, yet within their core,
Burns a spark of resilience, forevermore.
In their collective strife, a shared thread weaves,
A tapestry of strength, where unity achieves.
Languages blend, a symphony of sound,
Echoing stories of homelands, unbound.
They teach us the lesson of empathy's grace,
A shared experience in every embrace.
A tapestry woven with threads of endurance,
Humanity's portrait, a masterpiece of importance.
In this symphony of time, a thousand voices rise,
A tale of longing, where hope never dies.
In lands far and wide, where dreams reside,
Refugees seek a place to heal and confide.
Come, join me on a journey, where hearts find their way,
Amidst chaos and change, they seek the light of day.
Through shattered dreams, their resilience stands,
Emerging from darkness, like grains of sand.
Belonging whispers, a solace in the breeze,
A yearning for connection, an anchor in the seas.
In crowded camps, their spirits persist,
A flame of hope, through trials they resist.
They are the embodiment of strength and might,
In their stories, a beacon, shining so bright.
From Syria's ruins to Sudan's arid plains,
They forge ahead, breaking through chains.
From Afghanistan's ruins to distant shores,
A journey of courage, where hope explores.
Their tales carry burdens, emotions run deep,
In every word spoken, their truths we keep.
A chorus of voices, united in plight,
In their search for belonging, they find their light.
So let us stand by them, hearts open wide,
For compassion and understanding will be our guide.
In their journey, our shared fate we discern,
A tapestry of humanity, where love will return.
Belonging knows no borders, no walls to confine,
It's a feeling within, a treasure we define.
Homeland isn't just land, it's a fire that glows,
A warmth in their hearts, as their stories flow.
Let us honor their stories, each hardship they've known,
In their resilience and courage, our kinship is shown.
In their struggle, we find strength anew,
A tapestry of emotions, woven through and through.
In the tapestry of time, emotions interlace,
A tale of belonging, a journey we embrace.
In lands near and far, where dreams take flight,
Refugees seek belonging, a guiding star in their night.
Come, let me lead you on a journey of the heart,
Where compassion and empathy play their part.
Amidst chaos and uncertainty, they stand tall,
Refugees in search of belonging, answering life's call.
In shattered homes and distant lands they tread,
Seeking solace and safety, a place to lay their head.
Their memories of homeland carried on a breeze,
A whisper of longing, an ache that never eases.
Belonging beckons them, a distant guiding light,
A yearning to find a home, a place that feels right.
Amidst challenges and struggles, their spirits remain,
A flame of hope, a resilient refrain.
They are the brave souls, the seekers of grace,
Their stories etched with struggle, a unique embrace.
From far-flung corners of the earth, they come,
In search of belonging, a place to call home.
Their faces tell tales of resilience and might,
In their eyes, a reflection of a shared fight.
From Syria's war-torn streets to Africa's plains,
They bear the weight of history, breaking chains.
Through languages and cultures, diverse and wide,
A tapestry of humanity, woven side by side.
They teach us lessons of unity and love,
That compassion knows no borders, high above.
In their journey, we find a common thread,
A shared experience where empathy is spread.
A tapestry of strength, resilience, and grace,
A testament to the human spirit's embrace.
Their voices rise in harmony, a chorus of hope,
In their stories, a reminder of our shared scope.
Belonging transcends boundaries, it knows no bounds,
In their pursuit of a home, a sense of peace surrounds.
So let us stand with them, hand in hand,
United in purpose, together we'll withstand.
For in their search for belonging, they reflect our own,
A tapestry of humanity, a story yet unknown.