ode to my friend hassan

[datasuspect]

bosnian guy, they called him "bosnia" (street name).

anywho, i met this guy while drinking about 5 years ago, former child soldier, we normally spoke german together.

ruggedly handsome, wiry guy, but had the eyes of a murderer. a true manchild, someone exposed to way too much violence at a young age, but still had an innocence that didn't jibe with what he had experienced. he was like most of the people i've known who have been in prison: thousand yard stares and perpetual coldness; but there were occasional glimpses of light that could flash through them. and when most of the people you're around wear their humanity on their sleeves, it's a delight to see one of society's throwaways display what most of us take for granted.

he told me about his first day in the U.S.

he got arrested not shortly after arriving at o'hare. he couldn't speak any english, so he spoke to the police in german and they got a translator.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum.