Many cars pass by me
My dreams continue to deny me.
The sun sets now in a crimson sky,
I stare at the wall refusing to cry.
Set off barefoot into the unknown
Will it take me to my home?
Take me away, I need no more
Passing time, an open door.
I'm making my escape
Ignoring my mistakes
Asking forgiveness for what I have done
Hoping for one shot at redemption.
I followed the road to nowhere
Feeling the need to stay there.
I'm searching for a new beginning,
Want to wander, with head still spinning
A car comes by me, and I thumb a ride
Insanity beckons, or is it only pride?
I ride away, into the night
Search for solace, the will to fight.
I'm making my escape
Ignoring my mistakes
Asking forgiveness for what I have done
Hoping for one shot at redemption.
For Amir, his internal conflict is, “How can I redeem myself for past wrongdoing?” Amir is haunted by his past actions, specifically when he took no action to save Hassan when he was being savagely attacked by the gang of boys. Amir continued to show low character and failed to tell anyone about the attack. Amir continued to be deceitful in regard to Hassan and lied to get rid of the unwanted memory of his own character flaw. Amir needs redemption and like the poem by James Casey Amir’s life is impacted by his dilemma years later because Amir does not deal with the underlying shame he has festered for all the years since he left Afghanistan and the pain that began when he was a child.
Similar to Casey, Amir's dreams are denied due to Amir being uncomfortable with himself. When Amir lies to his father and Sohrab he is denying truth to himself first and foremost. As a result, Amir hits a psychological brick wall and cannot move forward with his life due to internalizing the self blame and self hatred. Casey alludes to being "stioc" and "refusing to cry," which is exactly what Amir does to forget about Sohrab and the shame he feels for choosing inaction over action.