RUMAN

A child of tomorrow
Clinging to yesterday
Trapped between the old and new

So much like me
Yet so different!
A spirit bold and free

Giving so much
Yet unable to fill
The emptiness deep within

So strong
Yet so weak
A song incomplete

Dead to the world
Yet so alive
In the universe of my mind

My only consolation
That we will meet
Once again in the Eternal Life!

(Ruman was much much more than my niece. She was my daughter, my friend, my confidant. As I have mentioned in the poem above, she was so much like me, but she was so different too. And I loved her so very, very much. She passed away on June 25, 2000. It was one of the worst days of my life and it took me years to get over the grief. For months, I would feel tears just filling my eyes at the thought of her. I still miss her terribly and I pray for her - every single day. I wish she were still around... but wherever she is, I know she is watching over me and Anu, whom she really loved. May Allah rest her soul in peace)