Marwan’s JourneyPatricia de Arias

Illustrated by Laura Borràs

9 7 8 9 5 6 3 6 4 0 1 0 6

Marwan’s Journey is made of courage and memories that live far away in his homeland. Marwan is a child who, along with millions of other human beings, crosses seas and deserts fleeing war and

hunger in search of another place.One step and another, a border, a mother’s voice… this is Marwan’s journey. And we follow his path, walking hand in hand with him towards freedom.

Text: Roseana Murray

Marw

an’s Journey

For Guga, who always lights my way with his love.

Marwan’s JourneySin Límites Collection

© of the text: Patricia Sánchez de Arias, 2016© of the illustrations: Laura Borràs, 2016

© of this edition: Editorial Amanuta Limitada, 2016Santiago, Chile

www.amanuta.cl

General Edition: Ana María Pavez y Constanza RecartDesign supervision: Philippe Petitpas

Design: Rosario Mena

First edition: December 2016Register number: 269.405ISBN: 978-956-364-010-6

Printed in China

Editorial AmanutaAll rights reserved

de Arias, Patricia.Marwan’s Journey / Patricia de Arias.

Illustrated by Laura Borràs.1ºed. - Santiago: Amanuta, 2016

[32 p.]: il. col. 21 x 25 cm. (Sin Límites Collection)ISBN: 978-956-364-010-6

1. CUENTOS ESPAÑOLES 2. INMIGRANTES3. REFUGIADOS

I. Borràs, Laura, il. II .Título IV. Serie

Marwan’s JourneyPatricia de Arias

Illustrated by Laura Borràs

editorial amanutaCOLECCIÓN SIN LÍMITES

I take giant stepseven though I am small.

One,two,three,crossing the desert.

I walk, and my footstepsleave a traceof ancient stories,

of songs of my homeland,of the smell of tea and bread,jasmine and earth.

I walk…and I don’t know when I will get there,

or where I am going.I carry a heavy bag.

My mended clothing,a prayer book,a notebook, a pencil,a photograph of my Mommy.

Sometimes, in the cold night,I cry out to her in my dreams.She comes and tucks me inwith her black hairand floury hands.

She says:–Marwan, keep going,walk, and walk, and walk.And I keep walking.

I remember a house.Mommy lit the fire

when night fell,and Daddy told stories

of our homeland.There was a garden, a cat

and a ray of sunlight that shoneevery morning on my pillow.

One day they came…The night became colder,darker, deeper,and swallowed up everything:my house, my garden, my homeland.

After that, we walked for one day,two,three…

Hundreds of people,thousands of feet,one in front of the other.

One…two…

three…

A line of humans like antscrossing the desert.

–Marwan, keep walking,don’t look back…

And I don’t look back.

Ahead liesthe border.They say that it is aninfinite linethat separates thedesert from the sea.

Another country, another house,another language.

Stories of other homelands.

One day, I will return.I will not look back.

I will plant a gardenwith my handsfull of flowersand hope.

I will build my housewith the cement of my sure steps.

I will let in the raysof sunlight that come throughthe windows and paint thewalls with happiness.

Every nightI will pray that the night never, never, nevergoes dark again.

Every nightI will pray that the night never, never, nevergoes dark again.

Marwan’s JourneyPatricia de Arias

Illustrated by Laura Borràs

9 7 8 9 5 6 3 6 4 0 1 0 6

Marwan’s Journey is made of courage and memories that live far away in his homeland. Marwan is a child who, along with millions of other human beings, crosses seas and deserts fleeing war and

hunger in search of another place.One step and another, a border, a mother’s voice… this is Marwan’s journey. And we follow his path, walking hand in hand with him towards freedom.

Text: Roseana Murray

Marw

an’s Journey