Sad Eyes
I walked in stride through the ranch petting any animal that caught my eye. They lived for my enjoyment,
and stumbled around enclosed by the fence that kept them captive. Yet they seemed content. They had
everything needed to survive. I let my hand glide up a horses back until I reached its head, then its eyes.
The eyes lacked a sparkle. Those sad eyes were deficient in a quality vital to every horse, freedom. I
slowly looked around the field paying attention to the horse's sulking eyes. Majestic beasts, trapped by
that electric fence. Have I ever seen a free horse? What would their eyes look like I wonder? I guess I will
never know because it's as though these animals were born for captivity. One day I hope to see those
horses escape that fence and all the sadness it comes with.

Haram
I sat surrounded by family watching the news. A priest from my home, my country, killed by soldiers only
for helping civilians wounded in the war. In his death he had no say. My family sat shocked around me.
Everyone was left speechless, what could we say? After a short moment my dad said one word, "Haram"
that was right, haram is right. Our family was still there in Lebanon trapped by the electric fence of war. I
looked to my left and peered out of the window, my eyes beginning to water, nothing but cloudy, gray
skies. That was how I felt cloudy and gray. I could tell dark days for my home lay ahead. Powerless, I was
powerless to help and those people powerless to receive it. My father called my aunt. His words were
drowned out by my thoughts. This pointless war hurt innocent people. It was nothing more than a power
struggle between nations.

A Quiet Night
I laid sleepily in bed pondering, thinking. What was the difference between me and a person living in
Lebanon? What do I deserve that they do not? Nothing, there is no difference. Yet as I slept soundly and
comfortably they suffered. What makes me a person and them horses, in the eyes of a military leader.
That night I prayed for hope, for peace rather than suffering, and for freedom. Most of all I prayed for the
sanctity of Lebanon and for its people to be pulled from the shadow of war. Suddenly my body felt as
heavy as lead. I could not leave my bed, I could not help my people for they were on the other side of that
evil electric fence. Slowly I drifted into sleep staring blankly at the ceiling hoping to find a solution to my
dilemma, but none arose.