On the Roof I See by Mirela Salihovic | One Poem Only

On the Roof I See by Mirela Salihovic | One Poem Only

Author: Maggie Devers April 11, 2026 Duration: 3:01

One Poem Only is a daily ritual: one poem, center stage, just for now.

On the Roof I See

Mirela Salihovic

My little sister and I,
When we’re in the tent,
love to play a game.
We call it:
"On the roof I see..."
And whoever’s turn it is
says what they see on the tent’s roof.
On the roof I see…
Birds of all sizes.
They land on the tent roof
and tiptoe across the canvas
with their tiny feet.
They wander back and forth.
I hear them chirping.
Winter is coming.
It will be cold under the tent.
Mom will bring more blankets and quilts
from the humanitarian aid.
Father’s friend Ahmed
used to sell beautiful quilts
in his little shop
at the end of the street.
Before they threw rocks at it
and destroyed it.
The birds fly off to warmer places.
On the roof I see…
Raindrops.
They sparkle in the morning sun
like crystals.
On the roof I see…
Leaves falling from the trees
in autumn.
Our old mulberry tree didn’t survive the shell.
My sister and I
hid in its trunk
when we played hide-and-seek.
We would hang from its branches.
Mom made homemade jam
from its white clusters.
On the roof I see…
The moon and stars.
The tent’s roof is see-through,
so at night,
when the sky is clear,
you can see the moon and stars.
On the roof I see…
Mom dusting
and bird droppings.
On the roof I see…
The roof of our old house.
Dad says:
"When the war is over, we’ll come back
and rebuild everything.
With our own hands."
On the roof I see…
I want to believe my dad.
I want to go back to elementary school.
If there were no war,
I’d be in seventh grade.
I want to play hide-and-seek again
with my sister
and hide in the old mulberry tree.
I want to see my best friend, Omar.
I wish we could play with paper airplanes.
The ones flying above us now
aren’t as fun.
And when I hear the sound of those airplanes nearby,
I hold my sister
and lay her head on my chest.
And I tell her that on the roof I see…
Flowers of every color
growing from the tent’s canvas,
as if from the earth itself.

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Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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