I once had a home filled with laughter,
Where children played under the sun.
But war came, and soon after,
Our peaceful days were done.
The skies grew dark with smoke and fear,
The streets were torn, the walls were gone.
We gathered what we held most dear,
Carrying only a photograph and a name.
We walked in silence and in fear.
The sea ahead was so wide,
But still we climbed into the boat.
The waves were wild, we couldn’t hide
Hope was all that kept us floating.
Till we reached a land that is so strange,
I speak a language that’s not my own.
And everything about me have changed,
This key in my hand opens no door,
It’s from a house that stands no more.
Yet I keep it close, my only companion,
And I’m not lost, just far from home.
Sali Andiamo Siyaya is a Malawian writer and engineer with a deep passion for storytelling. Though trained in engineering, she spends most of her time writing poems and stories that reflect real emotions and life experiences. Sali has appeared in both poems and short story anthologies and has touched many readers. She has also published novels on different platforms and continues to write with the goal of inspiring others. In her free time, she enjoys reading, singing, and playing chess. Sali believes that words have the power to heal, connect, and bring light to the world.
