WHY I HAVE GRAY HAIR
I was a child
Sitting in the first grade class
When my teacher, along with the alphabet,
Defined “human being:”
“The animal who talks and thinks.”
He told us this is what
Separates us from all other Creation.
I don’t know why, but surely
What he said touched my heart,
Rooted deep in my mind,
After that never I forgot.
I grew up to read a lot –
Philosophy and theory, lots of definitions
Of who we are and what is a human being.
I found nothing as right or true
As what my old teacher said.
Since then, even now,
I believe the human being
Is God’s best Creation.
Special in these ways:
Feeling with the heart,
Thinking with the mind,
Talking truth and kindness,
Standing for what’s right.
Today there is no theory
Which fits our reality.
Philosophers and scientists
Are confused and baffled.
We made our land into a jungle,
We hear well but can we see?
We are waiting for the mercy of the wolves.
And this is my answer
To why my hair is gray.
1992 by Yassin Aref