Arfa Karim: A Little White Rose
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
The passing away of Arfa Karim, the world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), is a great loss for inhabitants of the global village connected by the information technology. Arfa Karim was a child prodigy; she accomplished a lot during her short stay at the global stage. She herself was a little White Rose, whom she addressed in her poem “White Rose” thus:
In the storm
Stands the white rose
tumultuous waves
of destruction abound her
Yet tall is the white rose
strong in the face
Of the sensed doom around her
And she does not bow down
Pure is the white rose
In the compost earth
growing eternal strength
in the nights that so hurt
I see not the white rose
She is so far away
But I long to protect her
But only the words can I say
So I send her my words
And my poets heart
To help her when
there is hope to see her through
Be Strong little flower
Your heart will guide true
And as long as you want
I will always talk to you
She adored and admired Mr. Bill Gates very much. In her poem “Mr. Bill Gates,” she writes:
Born in October 1955
Programming was his only aim of life
Started programming at the age of 13
In his work he was really very keen
Entered Harvard in 1973
Thought more than a child could think to be
In 1975 begun Microsoft
With children he's very soft
At the end I would just like to say
I like Bill Gates in every way
Indeed, Arfa Karim liked Mr. Bill Gates in every way. Would Mr. Bill Gates be kind enough to establish institutions, in Arfa Karim’s Memory, for promoting computer literacy among the children in Pakistan?
And would Pakistani physicians living in North America, in Arfa Karim's memory, establish the much needed children’s hospitals across Pakistan?
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