In the memory of my friend

I can’t talk to her now, Because she’s fast asleep, And her room is way down, Buried deep.

But if I remember her, We’re not really apart, Because I can still see her, She’s there in my heart.

She can’t come and meet me, But I will meet her, When the time is right, And I’m asleep like her.

She’s fast asleep, And I can’t disturb her, Because she’s resting in peace.

She’s looking from the heavens at me, I’m crying for her but she’s happily at rest.

Tears fall from my eyes like raindrops, One after the other, never seem to stop.

I remember her eyes, her smile and her face, And it’s still hard to believe that this was her fate.

Sure, she faced some hardships and pain, But now she’s safe.

Maleeha Khan, 14 years, Karachi

My nation

I love my nation, I live for my nation, I read for my nation, I write for my nation, I will save my nation, I will sacrifice for my nation, And I can do Anything for my nation!

ZQ Bolani, 12 years, Turbat

My parrot

I have a parrot, It likes to eat carrot.

Other than carrot, It likes to eat chilli, It is so silly.

It has beautiful feathers, When it flies, It goes high in the sky.

It wants to go out with me, It likes to play with me.

It has two eyes to see, I like him so much, I want him so much.

M. Abdul Rafay, 13 years, Daharki

My baby brother

My baby brother is small and cute, He cries only for milk and food, He has tiny hands and feet, Chocolate, he likes to eat, His face is like a cute round ball, He has now begun to crawl, His eyes are round like a ball, I wish he never falls, His skin is soft as a rose, And he has a cute little nose, He sucks his thumb Soft and sweet; As if it’s a tasty treat, I love my baby brother, I wish I can have another.

Mirza Zayd Beg, 9 years, Karachi

Try again

After exams we all feel depressed, We all feel we could have done our best, But all we did maybe wasn’t enough, Studying is a battle, extremely tough, We think we could have done better, And this thought makes us sadder, We forget how much we worked hard, How we studied all day, And did not play, And revised formulas like nerds, How our mother prayed for us, And dad told us not to worry and forget our fears, But even after all that dedication, Maybe we could not reach our destination, So please don’t lose your hope, Don’t fear the problems you coped, You may try another day, Next year, Be sure to be trained, And kill your fears, These things teach us not to dread, Not to worry about trying; As a poet has said, “Good timber does not grow with ease, The stronger the wind, the stronger the trees.”

Sarah Hasan, 12 years, Karachi

Opinion

Editorial

X post facto
Updated 19 Apr, 2024

X post facto

Our decision-makers should realise the harm they are causing.
Insufficient inquiry
19 Apr, 2024

Insufficient inquiry

UNLESS the state is honest about the mistakes its functionaries have made, we will be doomed to repeat our follies....
Melting glaciers
19 Apr, 2024

Melting glaciers

AFTER several rain-related deaths in KP in recent days, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has sprung into...
IMF’s projections
Updated 18 Apr, 2024

IMF’s projections

The problems are well-known and the country is aware of what is needed to stabilise the economy; the challenge is follow-through and implementation.
Hepatitis crisis
18 Apr, 2024

Hepatitis crisis

THE sheer scale of the crisis is staggering. A new WHO report flags Pakistan as the country with the highest number...
Never-ending suffering
18 Apr, 2024

Never-ending suffering

OVER the weekend, the world witnessed an intense spectacle when Iran launched its drone-and-missile barrage against...