Another poem by someone else. Thanks to the Pali lady for sharing it :)

Love a Palestinian Woman!
=========================

When you love a Palestinian woman,
the essence of resistance seeps into your existence;
you comprehend the meaning of persistence.

In her eyes you may see residues of a tear,
but never a sign of fear.

When you love a Palestinian woman,
your heart is tuned to the beat of a heart that can never forget.
You travel far; you walk the narrow streets of Jerusalem, in the footsteps of Jesus, carrying his cross, cleaning his wounds, wiping his sweat.

When you love a Palestinian woman,
you love every wave that kisses the shores of her land,
every olive tree in Galilee,
every particle of salt in the Dead Sea.

When you love a Palestinian woman,
you love a smile mysteriously mixed with pain unknown to others;
and a laugh that was choked when the land was separated from its faithful lovers.

When you love a Palestinian woman,
you love a spirit that inherited the will to stand,
and eyes that terrify guards at check-points, in a way no man can.


How can any man love
but a Palestinian woman?

Dr. Walid Bishawi
Senior Advisor
Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies
San Diego State University

A nice poem by someone else :)

Baby, it's all good! - A modern hijab poem
By: Zehra

Author: Mafeesh

What do you see when you look at me
Do you see someone limited, or someone free
All some people can do is just look and stare
Simply because they can't see my hair
Others think I am controlled and uneducated
They think that I am limited and un-liberated
They are so thankful that they are not me
Because they would like to remain 'free'

Well free isn't exactly the word I would've used
Describing women who are cheated on and abused
They think that I do not have opinions or voice
They think that being hooded isn't my choice
They think that the hood makes me look caged
That my husband or dad are totally outraged
All they can do is look at me in fear
And in my eye there is a tear

Not because I have been stared at or made fun of
But because people are ignoring the One up above
On the day of judgment they will be the fools
Because they were too ashamed to play by their own rules
Maybe the guys won't think I am a cutie
But at least I am filled with more inner beauty
See I have declined from being a guy's toy
Because I won't let myself be controlled by a boy

Real men are able to appreciate my mind
And aren't busy looking at my behind
Hooded girls are the ones really helping the Muslim cause
The role that we play definitely deserves applause
I will be recognized because I am smart and bright
And because some people are inspired by my sight
The smart ones are attracted by my tranquility
In the back of their mind they wish they were me

We have the strength to do what we think is right
Even if it means putting up a life long fight
You see we are not controlled by a mini skirt and tight shirt
We are given only respect, and never treated like dirt
So you see, we are the ones that are free and liberated
We are not the ones that are sexually terrorized and violated
We are the ones that are free and pure
We're free of STD's that have no cure

So when people ask you how you feel about the hood
Just sum it up by saying, 'Baby its all good'

Passing Thoughts

Recently I tried contacting a few friends with whom i had not spoken for quite some time. I did not get them over the weekend again, and that got me thinking about this life of ours. We meet so many people, and have many on our messenger lists, yet occasionally there is a sense of emptiness for not having done our duty to check up with them. There were times when a small hiccup in their voice would tell you if they are smiling or in distress, and there are others when you are in the oblivioun about their life. Friend circles keep changing, and you try your best to maintain the old ones. Finally you decide to stick to a few close ones. but u still crave for knowing and talking to the other people. Soon we start searching for an occasion to call them, and when we miss the chance then we postpone it for the next occasion. Never does it come to mind that everyday is an occasion, and the person at the other end is as eager to talk to you. If the person is unavailable, we never assume that he is tied up with some urgent matter at school/work/family but may classify him to be judgemental. Life is so short, and so rapidly moving by. Everyday we recount our memories, and then take a deep breath and accept them to be our past. We leave behind a part of ourselves expecting to make it up in the future. This is life; a wheel that keeps rolling over different paths, collecting the mud of some and staying indifferent to the asphalt. Some of the earth comes with it to the final destination but most of it is a just a path traversed and forgotten.