How Can I?

Look at me

I would love to write poetry about love,

Paint rainbows and butterflies,

Roll in a meadow

Enchanted by rosebud scent

Run down the hills with open arms

Embrace the Earth

Inhale the sky

 

I would love to dance for love;

Twirl with jubilant nightingales

Swept off my feet

Besotted, entranced

As I sing my lullaby

 

 

I would love to dream of love, stretch my wings

 Taste the clouds, touch infinity as I fly

Watch prophets pray

Hear angels sing

Bathe in light, a Heavenly delight

Roam the cosmos before I die

 

 

I would love to sing for love

Fling open the gates of my soul

Invite the world in

Tuck it all under my wings

Rock back and forth

Caress its wounds

Whisper “I love you”

Watch it heal before my eyes

 

 

I would love to close my eyes and see children smiling

Tell them stories of lily-like fairies in far-away lands

No guns pointing at their heads

No bullets shrieking…. no missiles exploding

No blood, no burns, no broken limbs,

no prison bars, no tears, no sighs

 

I would love to embrace a baby,

Hold her safe, sway her gently in my arms

Stroke her face in tender love and astounding wonder

Teach her sweet words, mama, baba, habibi Allah

Look into her eyes in dazzling awe and whisper

My amazing grace,

You are my hope, you are my love, you are my joy

 You are my rainbow, you are my lilac and my amber

 

But

How can I?

 

There is a dagger in my heart

I am hurting

Hurting

I bleed,

I cringe

I cry

HUMANITY,
WHERE ARE YOU?

I am being slaughtered

Under your watchful eyes

I am cold… cold…. cold

I cringe

I cry

Humanity,
where are you?

Why do you turn your face away?

Why do you keep looking the other way?

I am here

Languishing

In Gaza’s alleyways

 

Humanity, where are you?

Look at me

See me

I am here

Sighing

In Gaza’s alleyways

I cringe

I cry

Humanity,

Enough turning the other way

Turning a deaf ear

Turning a blind eye

While I, and oh … my poor children
Die

And Still They Sing!

We came to your door, O Lord of lords

Refugees at your door, O Lord of lords

All of creation, O my Creator, have sold us for dust

* * *

A freedom fighter, his weapons, Allahu Akbar and a stone

Be Steadfast, endure the bombing, O noble Gaza, O dear

* * *

We take it upon ourselves to make justice prevail

Our heroic martyrs are not slain in vain, not slain in vain

* * *

You have this covenant from us, we will not betray

You, O land of olives, land of peace

Steadfast we remain, steadfast we remain

* * *

We came to your door, O Lord of lords

Refugees at your door, O Lord of lords

All of creation, O my Creator, have sold us for dust

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A post shared by Yousef Abd Elrazeq (@yousefabdelrazeq)

A Wedding in Gaza

* * *

Broad smiles and tender eyes

A bride and a groom joyfully embrace

 

In the gap between two wars

They kidnap some love

Smuggle it through smoke filled skies

Without any rituals, not even goodbyes

Bury it deep in their trauma-bruised hearts

A gift from the One, Most Kind, Most Sublime

 

They prayed for their love, forever to grow

To scatter in abundance, over friend and foe

A splash of wonder, beauty and grace

A heavenly blow of shock and awe

Awaken a world, long-stagnant in daze

Between two funerals, avoiding a missile

Dropped from above by some “master-race”

Majed and Sara held tight their hands

Snatched a flash of tiny joy

From  jaws and claws of a hungry Death-Ace

 

 

In a moment of eternity, as time ceased to be

A four day truce

Drizzles of hope, they tried to retrieve

Capture in their cracked hearts

To share with humanity

Revealing God’s miracles

In the most unexpected place

A doorless room in a refugee school-camp

 

 

 

When bombs are not falling

They seize a laughter, or a gentle gaze

Majed and Sarah are not mere names

Two Palestinians, out of many millions

Full of life, deprived of life

On the brink of death

They hang onto life, every moment of their life

Let their magic tale be embroiled in your very dear life

Save in a file, post, like and share

Eradicate hasbara lies of soldiers-cyberspace

Here lived a people

Who dearly adore life

Noble, soulful, proud yet not vain

Enduring, endearing, grateful, humane

Despite the horrors they’ve seen

Faithful, hopeful, steadfast they remain

Hearts of millions they hold spellbound

Faith and humanity they nurture and sustain

* * * * *

Majed and Sara’s wedding

 

 

* * * * *

Yasmin and Muhammed’s wedding

 

 

 

Global Intifada

* * *
I need to watch this horror

I need to feel their pain

Homes erased

Schools bombarded

Hospitals targeted

Water cut off

Food denied

Children crying

Babies Dying

Mamas losing their minds

* * *

* * *

I need to stare at them dying

Attentive, no distraction

Not turn my face away

Not cover my eyes

Not look the other way

I need to feel their pain

* * *

* * *

I need my heart, ripped out

Shaken to the core

I need to ache and tremble

Watching her body crumble

I need to feel his fear

As he wipes his tears

I need to feel their pain

* * *

* * *

I need to hear her screams

Piercing through my ears

I need to break my norms

Disturb my inner peace

I need to cry my eyes out

I need to feel her pain

* * *

* * *

I need this heartache, to reclaim my humanity

I need it to overcome my selfishness and greed

I need this heartache, so my heart doesn’t rot

Of hardiness and apathy

I madly need this pain, to feel alive and human again

* * *

* * *

As Palestine gasps for survival

She breathes Life, into a dying world

* * *

A weary world,

With a tainted soul and confused identity

Lost, oppressed, depressed and downtrodden

Seeking a way out of chronic misery:

Mega corporations

Money swindlers, arms dealers

Ego promoters, mind controllers

Slavery to addiction, illusion of liberty

Erased Masculinity, disfigured femininity

Stolen childhood, lopsided morality

Lying politicians, impotent jurisdiction

Fake democracy

Genocidal barbarity

Delusional superiority

Normalised depravity

Dehumanised  humanity

and on, and on, and on

* * *

* * *

As Palestine gasps for freedom

She kindles faith and hope

Into the soul of a despairing humanity

Infuses passion of liberation

Into the heart of an occupied world

* * *

* * *

Have you ever seen the world so united

So enraged

So in tuned

So inspired

So in awe

So in love

So alive!

It’s Palestine, Sir

It’s the Holy Land

* * *

* * *
We watch in disbelief

The pain of Palestine,

Trickling down

Saving humanity from its itself

Healing all, mind, heart and soul

* * *

* * *

Awestruck, we watch, eyes open wide

The tears of Palestine

Drowning in agony

Drawing smiles

Awakening dreams

Of a better, more beautiful world

* * *

* * *

Bewildered, we retain in memory

The maiming of Palestine

The grace of Palestine!

Stitching wounds

With a thread of faith

Embroidered with a rainbow of hope

Gathering nations

As a mother hugging her own

* * *

* * *
Are we dreaming?

Is that really true?

Are we awakened yet?

A small tiny nation with no means at all

Facing superpowers armed with might, and hate

Are these people crazy?

Have they lost their minds?

Facing tanks with meek means

Embracing death with open arms

Offering life to those who follow

Either a life of dignity

Or the glory of martyrdom

Succumbing to non but the One Most High

Grinning as they say goodbye

Hearts full of love

And faith sky high

* * *

* * *

Enchanted

Oscillating between anger and adoration

Overriding guilt and shame

Hearts of mankind align

Throb in perplexing harmony

And deep admiration

Chanting in unison

Palestine will be Free

From the River to the Sea

Free Free Palestine

Free Free Palestine

* * *

A Letter From Heaven

This poem is very special, it was written by my beloved niece Jeanine, read by her two beautiful daughters Jude and Jena, and put together by my lovely niece Sabreen

Mama
Baba
Don’t worry about me
I’m in heaven with my neighbor
She’s three just like me

I was greeted by some babies
They hugged me, held my hand
Told me not to be afraid
said, “this is what was planned”

They gave me a cute teddy bear
we played and sang a song
Heaven’s really beautiful mama
This is where I belong

I begged the doctor, grabbed his shirt
Please don’t let me die
I have a daddy who adores me
and a mommy who will cry

I drew you a picture mama
Of us as a family
With a rainbow in the background
and our flag with an olive tree

Wipe your tears ya baba
I’m right there by your side,
My body’s in the rubble now
but my spirit never died

Stay strong ya mama
Your baby girl is here
One thing you used to tell me
is to never live in fear

To the strongest humans, my Palestinians
Allah is with you and Israel will get their turn
To Allah we belong
and to him is our return

The Beginning Of The End

 

This is not the last battle

This is not the final blow

However

We have made the U turn

This is the road with no return

A pivotal battle on the path of liberation

 

 

Be prepared

It might even get more ugly

More grief and pain

But at the end of the tunnel

The light is glowing

  insha’ Allah

Just read the writing on the wall

 

The birth of a baby

Takes incredible energy

Patience, courage and willingness to sacrifice

Sacrifice one’s comfort, sleep, normality

And even one’s own life

A mother goes through unimaginable pain

It even gets more acute

Towards the end

But then, suddenly

Before we know it, it’s all over

Life is born

First breath is taken

A baby screams

Of joy and relief

Mama and Baba cry

Such is Freedom

 

Seriously?

* * *

Seventy five years of deafening silence

As bombs rained down on Palestine

Day in day out

Year in year out

Droves of children wiped out

In their mothers’ arms

Screaming

O hear us world,

We’ve been mowed down
* * *

* * *
Seventy five years, turning a blind eye

The usurpation of the Holy land

Ethnic cleansing and slow genocide

Five generations

Children bones broken

Babies slain under your watchful eyes

Their tender bodies mutilated

Their dreams pulverized

Their lives torn down

* * *

* * *

Where have you been, all that time?

* * *

* * *

Seventh of October 2023

Enough is Enough

Said Palestine

Gathered its pain

And tried to push back

* * *

* * *

You, leaders in the “civil” West

Taken by surprise

Your “moral compass”

Flickered in outrage

Seventh of October 2023

Not a day before, not a day after

Your humanity “awakened”

Only for a day
* * *

* * *

Your “Judaeo-Christian” values

Flinched for a day

Calling for revenge

Chanting kill them all

* * *

* * *

Deaf… Dumb and Blind

Dead before that

Dead after that

* * *

* * *

You broke your silence

Parroted the lies

“This is barbarity”

“This is terrorism”

“We bemoan the dying”

“We value human life”

With ‘israel’ we fight

With ‘israel’ we stand

* * *

* * *
Then soon after that

Day in day out

You’ve seen the massacres

You’ve witnessed all

Crimes Against Humanity

Extermination and Genocide

Live on your TV screens

Children shaking

Mothers howling

Fathers’ faces soaked in tears

Carrying baby limbs in plastic bags

* * *

* * *

Did you bat an eyelid

Did you lift a hand

Not even a whisper

Not a peeping sound

* * *

* * *

Gaza flattened

Rafah wiped out

While you rejoice

Total annihilation!

The follower of Jesus

And his Holy land

* * *

* * *

Thousands of lives has no value
They are not the “chosen”

Not the “Israelites”

Eat their flesh

Drink their blood

Feast on their misery

Fear no consequence

Count your mitzvahs

As you maim the “cursed” ones

They are not the “chosen”

Not the “Israelites”

The world wouldn’t mind

Wink, wink

Life goes on

All is cool

To your bigoted mind

* * *

* * *

Repeat your mantra

‘israel’ must defend itself

Send more arms, rain more fury

 At the feet of Baby-Killer, rub your faces

Receive her “blessing” as you kiss her hand

* * *

* * *

Scream in frenzy

A Jew has died

A Jew has died

A Jew has died

* * *

* * *

Frothing at the mouth

“Do you condemn Hamas?”
You have the chutzpah to ask

Seriously?

Have you no humanity?

Have you no shame?

* * *

No More Pain

Pile your ugly missiles and guns

Froth at the mouth drinking my blood

Feast on your foul bars of gold

Beat your chests, rejoice my death

Until we meet at Court Divine

Your final shock and awe will be

Your “chosen-mess”, your own demise

I am done with you… serene I am gone

Angel in the sky I glide

Ear to ear my gorgeous grin

Free of sadness, fear and pain

Unlike before, now able to play

I sing, I dance, I jump, I fly

With utmost joy and endless fun

🤍 🤍 🤍

Pile your ugly missiles and guns

Froth at the mouth drinking my blood

Feast on your foul bars of gold

Beat your chests, rejoice my death

Until we meet at Court Divine

Your final shock and awe will be

Your “chosen-mess”, your own demise

I am done with you… serene I am gone

Angel in the sky I glide

Ear to ear my gorgeous grin

Free of sadness, fear and pain

Unlike before, now able to play

I sing, I dance, I jump, I fly

With utmost joy and endless fun

🤍 🤍 🤍

Pile your ugly missiles and guns

Froth at the mouth drinking my blood

Feast on your foul bars of gold

Beat your chests, rejoice my death

Until we meet at Court Divine

Your final shock and awe will be

Your “chosen-mess”, your own demise

I am done with you… serene I am gone

Angel in the sky I glide

Ear to ear my gorgeous grin

Free of sadness, fear and pain

Unlike before, now able to play

I sing, I dance, I jump, I fly

With utmost joy and endless fun

🤍 🤍 🤍

Pile your ugly missiles and guns

Froth at the mouth drinking my blood

Feast on your foul bars of gold

Beat your chests, rejoice my death

Until we meet at Court Divine

Your final shock and awe will be

Your “chosen-mess”, your own demise

I am done with you… serene I am gone

Angel in the sky I glide

Ear to ear my gorgeous grin

Free of sadness, fear and pain

Unlike before, now able to play

I sing, I dance, I jump, I fly

With utmost joy and endless fun

Blending In Love

When overwhelmed
I run outside
I chase my nightmares
Holding my hand
From strands of a rainbow
Gather some colours
In pots of gold

* * *
Back home, serene
I sit in a corner
With a thread of stars
And a bunch of flowers
I braid my song
Stitching my heart
On grandma’s robe

* * *
High from Heaven
Her eyes twinkle
Her smile glows
Seeing her baby
Comes back to life

* * *
A splash of love
Falls from above
Graceful Divine
The weary soul
Swells up with joy
Tears of elation
Bows down and prays

Nostalgia

My uncle sent me this video of our beloved village of Beit Iksa, so I wrote

You touched me deeply, dear uncle
I asked my tears
How breathtakingly beautiful this part of earth is!
How deep is her pain and how profound is her sorrow!

When I saw her, as if my eyesight was lost
The mind wandered like a terrified motherless filly that doesn’t know the way
Heart stopped beating
Soul melted, limbs trembled
Guts churned, breath taken away 

Deep love drowned in excruciating pain
Overwhelming joy faded away into eternal sadness
I no longer know who I am, where I came from or where am I going

Do I cry of euphoria or laugh of sorrow and grief?
The strings of my soul intermingled with her soil
You wouldn’t know anymore, which was me or which was her

Sun stood still and earth is no longer revolving
Overwhelmed with nostalgia
Childhood love erupted without warning
The yearning of youth in my being set ablaze
Weaving agony in my grieving heart
I thought I had buried years ago

However,
Laws and Truth of God, can never be changed, forever prevail
From the darkness of agony shines the dawn of glory and hope
From the bitterness of sorrow, the sweetness of patience and gratitude, enjoyed forevermore

“The earth will gleam with the Light of its Lord, and the Records shall be set up, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward: and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).”

Would a rope tightened to God be ever cut off?
Does a heart connected to the Most Loving Sublime, would ever know despondency or despair?
Would a Divine promise from the Most Merciful ever be broken?

God-forbid… No way!

“when the second of the warnings will come to pass, We will raise up a people that they may disgrace your faces and may enter the Mosque as they entered it the first time, and that they may destroy with utter destruction whatsoever extreme power/ hegemony, you may have achieved/accumulated”