The afternoon

The sky turned green

On the holiest of days

A door opened

And a man said

Hello Brother

Welcome.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a seventy-seven year old husband who had presided over the marriage of others.

The afternoon the sky turned green a seventy-one year old husband, father, adoring grandfather and motorbike devotee, who had found safety four decades ago, was the first to fall.

The afternoon the sky turned green a seventy year old husband, father, retired accountant, and volunteer sat with his friends in the same corner he always did.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a gentle husband and father with the purest of souls.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a sixty-eight year old design engineer.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-six year old husband, father and retired engineer gave his children the gifts of strength and patience.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-six year old father was visiting his son, while a daughter on the other side of the world waited.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-three year old mother was visiting her son while a daughter on the other side of the world waited.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty-eight year old son welcomed his parents while a sister on the other side of the world waited.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a sixty-six year old father, husband and professor.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a sixty-five year old husband and father.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-five year old husband and father was visiting his son in this country for the first time.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-four year old mother, grandmother and story-swapper took her place alongside her sisters as she always did.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-three year old husband, father, linguist and much more journeyed to hospital.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixty-one year old loving and quiet man did not miss his prayers.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a sixty year old father, uncle, and community leader.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fifty-nine year old husband, father and Imam visited friends.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fifty-eight year old man was with his son.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-eight year old new father stood alongside his own father.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fifty-eight year old man in a Fijian rugby jersey sat before his brother.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a fifty-seven year old saint, heart doctor, husband and father.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a fifty-seven year old husband and father who looked after our planes in the sky.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a fifty-five year old husband and father of six who hated the wars and the fighting.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a peaceful fifty-four year old husband and father.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fifty-four year old man turned his palms upward.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fifty year old husband and father wrestled with evil.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-one year old son who hoped to marry soon walked with his father.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a forty-six year old husband and father who often brought food to share.

The afternoon the sky turned green a forty-four year old wife and mother ushered children out a side door to safety before turning back for her husband who could not move.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a forty-four year old husband and father who had, after waiting for six long years in a camp, just found the safest country in all the world.

The afternoon the sky turned green a sixteen year old boy who celebrated his birthday two days before and whose father had found him the safest country in all the world called his mother.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a forty year old husband, father and professor.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty-eight year old father was waiting for visas so his wife and children could come.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty-seven year old man with a Master’s degree in engineering told his wife and young children how much he loved this country.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a thirty-six year old husband, father and engineer.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a thirty-six year old husband, father and twin brother who served a community from his small shop.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty-six year old man was helping weld together a broken city while his wife and unborn child waited across the seas for him.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-three year old man whose arms were made for hugging sisters turned those same arms into a shield.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a thirty-four year old husband, father and software engineer.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty-four year old husband waited on his birthday for his wife to join him in his new country.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a thirty-three year old technologist, goalkeeper, husband and father.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a thirty year old husband and father who was just the very best man.

The afternoon the sky turned green a thirty year old man was studying to be a dentist in the safest place in the world.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a twenty-eight year old new father.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-six year old only son, fortified with his accountancy degree to support his family, walked while his friend parked.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-five year old woman with a Master’s degree turned back to look for her husband.

The afternoon the sky turned green a twenty-four year old man was living his dream learning how to soar in the sky.

The afternoon the sky turned green there was a twenty-four year old son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.

The afternoon the sky turned green a seventeen year old boy was a student at a city college.

The afternoon the sky turned green a fourteen year old boy was a family’s brave little soldier.

The afternoon the sky turned green a three year old boy left his tiny shoes at the door.

Grandmothers without grandsons.

Grandsons without grandmothers.

Grandmothers without granddaughters.

Granddaughters without grandmothers.

Grandfathers without grandsons.

Grandsons without grandfathers.

Grandfathers without granddaughters.

Granddaughters without grandfathers.

Mothers without sons.

Sons without mothers.

Mothers without daughters.

Daughters without mothers.

Fathers without sons.

Sons without fathers.

Fathers without daughters.

Daughters without fathers.

Wives without husbands.

Husbands without wives.

Brothers without sisters.

Sisters without brothers.

All this

The afternoon

The sky turned green

On the holiest of days

When a door opened

And a man said

Hello Brother

Welcome.

Kia kaha, kia kotahi rā

As-salaam alaikum