Saif lived with his mum and dad,
in a gorgeous coastal town,
Their lives were full of hardship,
but you would never see him frown.

His parents truly cherished him,
they loved their son to pieces,
"Our love for you" they said to him,
“everyday increases."

His cousins all lived right nearby,
his life was full of play,
And to the mosque, five times a day,
he would go to pray.

Times were getting dangerous,
they were taking care,
A sense of fear for mum and dad,
was, quite literally, in the air.

One night as they were all asleep,
unleashed from high above,
a missile tore right through their block,
and into their house of love.

Their building was demolished,
with Saif’s family deep inside,
He was trapped and couldn't move,
however much he tried.

Panic - terror - mayhem, confusion all around,
It soon gave way to quietness,
with pain the only sound.

Saif lay trapped underneath,
the mounds of brick and rock,
His legs, arms and body ached,
as he wandered into shock.

He held back his fear and prayed,
he knew he had no choice,
Then suddenly,
from the darkness,
he heard his father’s voice.

“Saif, Saif, my beloved child,
If you hear me, count to five?”
"Baba, baba, I'm right here,
I’m so happy you’re alive.”

"Trust in Allah" said his dad,
“It may seem that we’re in trouble,
But mark my words, folk will come,
and remove us from this rubble."

Saif could move his right arm,
but he could not move the other,
He then felt a hand nearby,
and the fingers of his mother.

"Mama, mama, are you okay?"
She gave him no reply,
But she squeezed his little palm so tight,
and he gave out a joyful cry.

"Baba, baba, mum is here,
I think that she is fine,
I cannot see or hear her, but her hand is holding mine."

"Listen Saif – until help arrives,
let's keep her awake,
Let's keep talking out aloud,
however long they take."

So that's exactly what Saif did,
chatting to his mum and dad,
He said how much he loved them,
and spoke of good times they had had.

"Baba, you always teach me well,
football, judo, fixing stuff,
You’re always doing things with me,
I can never get enough."

"You taught me how to fish,
I am the Fishing King,
I always catch the big ones, you never catch a thing!"

"Mama, thank you for your love,
you keep me safe and clean,
I have toys and games to play with,
you are never, ever mean."

"Whenever I am sick, you are by my bed,
You give me food and drink,
and gently stroke my head."

Saif talked for ages,
he remembered much,
He couldn't see his parents,
but he could feel his mother's touch.

He talked, talked, and talked still more,
but neither parent would reply,
And his mother's hand grew weaker,
as every minute ticked on by.

Very soon her hand turned loose,
and every fingertip,
was now all mild and motionless,
she had lost her grip.

"Mum has let go!” screamed Saif,
“she has let go of my hand,”
“Baba, tell me what is happening, I do not understand."

“Baba, baba, are you there?”
Saif began to shout,
"Baba, can you hear me?",
he kept on calling out.

But his father still gave no reply,
silence all around,
Saif knew that he was now alone,
and just waited to be found.

Rescuers soon reached him,
severely injured but alive,
His mum and dad were picked out too,
they did not survive.