The Life Lesson Learned in "Hamadi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

The Lesson of Moving Forward

Susan learns a lesson that life should go on and we must not stop living life when we get hurt by someone or not liked by them.

Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist born on March 12, 1952. "Hamadi" by Naomi Shihab Nye tells the story of a girl named Susan and an old family friend named Hamadi. At the end of the story, Hamadi is seen comforting Tracy when she is faced with heartbreak. Hamadi's words resonate with deep wisdom as he tells Tracy, "WE GO ON. ON AND ON. WE DON’T STOP WHERE IT HURTS. WE TURN A CORNER. IT IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE LIVING. TO TURN A CORNER. COME, LET’S MOVE." Susan overhears this conversation and internalizes the lesson that life should continue despite hardships and we must keep living and moving forward even when faced with pain or rejection.

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