The World Outside - NaPoWriMo - #23

Mommy, is it true?

Tell me, is it true that outside,
there is a place where, water flows freely on the rocks,
and it flows and it flows and it flows, it never stops;
tell me, is that true?

Yes dear son, my baby,
it is true; but that place is in heaven, it is not here,
here is only the small tanks, which you see; you see,
the water is very costly, only so much for you and me

But tell me mommy, does my friend lie?
Omar, my friend, who lives three containers away;
he says, there is a place outside, where so many trees stand, 
that you cannot see the sun; he says, it is called a forest

Yes love of my life,
there is that place, but not in this world dear child;
he must be, talking about the heaven again, where lie
hundreds of fruity trees, for you all waiting in line

No!! But he says it is here, in our world,
and he says there are so many animals, on the ground
and even in water, all outside the wall; tell me mommy,
how can anyone live in water? don't they ever die?

Oh no no, you get it wro...

Wait but mommy, where do they eat their food?
And where do they sleep? Can they sleep in the water? And,
what is an ocean mommy? He says it is so big, it never ends,
no matter how far you look; surely, you must know about it 

No my gullible, my dear innocent boy,
there is no such thing outside, all imaginations and lies
but don't worry my dear, there is a whole world in heaven,
much bigger, much more beautiful than anyone can describe

And there you will find, all kinds of trees and birds and animals
maybe even those which will live under water, and maybe you too
could live under water; there will be water, flowing water, and 
so much and so sweet, that you would never get tired

Okay; okay mommy...

Omar said there was a war, a war 
like no other in our country before, he said
What is a war, mommy? He said, many people died in it, did
daddy die in it too mommy? In a War?

Enough! Enough of your questions today
what kind of things does your friend say
I will go and talk to his mother at once
what is she teaching him, and to you in turn

Your father, your brothers, died beyond the wall; there is
nothing but dry land and heat there, and fall
no forests, or oceans, or animals are real, 
only you and I, are in this camp real

Okay? Only, we have each other to look for my son,
together, we shall live here under this sun
and I, warn you my love, they will kill you too if,
you try to climb the wall, and break free outside

...
..
.

The boy died two weeks later, attempting to get out of the refugee camp that he was born in. He and his friend Omar were shot by camp gaurds. He was 6 years old.