People with Green Hearts


Arabic poem,

Author شهرزاد الخليج

Translated and illustrated by Nahida Exiled Palestinian

 

People with green hearts

The colour of trees is the colour of their hearts 
Their dreams… water pure
 Their imagination… sky wide
 They are capable of infinite forgiveness 
Have the ability to bathe in optimism
 And to wash themselves in dreams to the very last drop

 People with green hearts
 Don’t ever expect to be stabbed from the back 
By a hand that once shook theirs
 Their days and seasons are works of art painted with hope
 They don’t learn easily from their mistakes
 Instead, they keep repeating them like a child’s bad habits

 They offer hearts around them infinite trust 
They’re incapable of seeing the colour black in existence

 People with green hearts 
Come intimately near to those who pass them by in life, 
So much so that they are glued to them 
They cling to the minute details 
Ever trusting of those around
 Creative in finding excuses to the faults of others 

 People with green hearts 
Cling onto beginnings like mad 
Reject endings fiercely 
They can’t comprehend separation

They trick reality with a dream 
The dream with an illusion 
On the map of hope, they occupy vast areas

People with green hearts
 Don’t recognise mistrust or deception 
Nor do they cause others to taste portrayal 

They start with purity
 And end up with faithfulness
 Longing steals much of their time
 They keep loyal to their tales until death 
Yesterday has immense reverence in their lives

 People with green hearts
 Play the role of peace doves
 Spreading love on earth 
Help in building abodes of joy 

They hasten to mend the broken hearts
 And talk with the voice of affection
About love and dreams

They make you feel that it’s them 
Who invented the colour “white” in this universe

 People with green hearts 
Hold fast to childhood, despite the passing of years 
Their hearts forever young 
Their souls never grow old, nor become polluted 

Their faces reflects babyhood innocence 

Their eyes mirror truthfully their essence
They’re not good at hiding, or deceiving 
And fail miserably in wearing masks

 People with green hearts
 Never fail you when you need them
 They are the first to cover your needs

 When feeling overwhelmed;
They are the first thing that you lay your eyes upon 
The first who come to your rescue when drowned in sorrow 

When you are suffocated they’d give you their breath 
They’d make their lives a life ring thrown to you

 People with green hearts
 When they love, they love passionately 

When they are faithful, they are faithful passionately
 When they get a shock, the get a shock passionately

 And when they are broken, they are broken passionately
 When they give, they give passionately 
And when they cry, they cry passionately
 If you find yourself embraced
 By one of those with green hearts 
Cling onto them… passionately

 As they are a rare treasure
 In times of colour-shifting hearts
 

In Palestine, Something Miraculous Happens


By Nahida- Exiled Palestinian

 

In Palestine 

 
Terror reigns
Psychopaths claim dominance
and a “G-d given right to rob, kill and maim
 
In Palestine
Terror reigns
 
Smiles … wiped of innocent faces
 Little girls weep
Little boys butchered
Babies are slain
In Palestine
Terror reigns
Criminals are the law
They bomb, they shoot, they smite
With mini-nukes they wipe life out
In Palestine
Terror reigns
Without “lamp-shades”, bodies mutilated
Without “cremationovens”, toddlers charcoaled 
 
Without “gas-chambers”, Tiny tots… exterminated
In Palestine
Terror reigns
Aggressors crowned with victim-hood”
Their victims… “anti-Semites”, “filled with hate” !
They murder then cry
Sneer as they lie
They twist and deceive, innocence they proclaim
 Apart from themselves, Everyone to blame
 
In Palestine
 
Primary colours no longer three
 Red and green, black and white
Freedom painted red… Love is green
Sacrifice and faith black and white
In Palestine
 Out of the ashes humanity rises tall
 Resilience leaves you you speechless
Courage takes your breath away

and in contrast 

Bottomless cowardice

As never seen before

In Palestine
Something miraculous happens
 The more people die
The more hope is born!
Hope… Astounding
 Bequest of the Divine
 
Seen in every face 
Written with every name
 

Gaza Speaks


By Nahida Exiled Palestinian

LOOK AT ME

I would love to write poetry about love,

Paint rainbows and butterflies,

Roll in a meadow

Enchanted with rosebud scent

Run down the hills with open arms

Embrace the Earth

Inhale the Sky

But… How can I?
How can I?
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I would love to to dance for love,

Spin with jubilant nightingales

Swept off my feet

Twirl and sway

Besotted, entranced

As I sing a lullaby

I would love to fly

Roam the cosmos before I die

* * *

But how can I?

How can I?

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I would love to sing for love

Flung 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” in its ear

See it heal

Before my eyes

* * *

But how can I?

How can I?

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I would love to close my eyes and see children smiling

Tell them stories of lily-like fairies in faraway lands

No guns pointing at their heads

Not of bullets shrieking or missiles exploding

No blood, no tears, no prison bars, no sighs

But

How can I?

How can I?

How can I?

How can I?

There is a dagger in my heart

I am hurting

Hurting

I bleed

I cringe

I cry

HUMANITY, WHERE ARE YOU? 

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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 Palestine alleyways

Humanity, where are you?

Look at me

See me

I am here

Sighing

Fading away

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

A lioness of Palestine !


Fearsome and Awesome

Look at you… My beloved

Look at you

This little fist of yours

Slams before the world

The final word

This little fist of yours

Says it all

RIGHT is GREATER than MIGHT

The sparkle in your eyes

BLAZING FIRE

Burns deep

Renders them to ashes;

Soulless shadows

Void of life

Void of love

Void of heart

Remnants of human beings

They wither away

Before your magnificence

They bow down

Lost… Defeated… Humiliated…

Drenched in shame

Humanity you embody

Dignity you teach

Wonders you inspire

Tall you stand, my sweetheart

Tall you stand

What mother of glory gave birth to you

O great daughter of Palestine

Your Tears

Your Pain

Your sacrifice

A Wake Up call

To a sleepy world

A zombie world

A beaten world

Who forgot what it means to be alive

Lift your fist

Shake your wrist

Move the world

Beloved daughter of Palestine

Hear her ROAR…World

Hear her roar

Hold her heart

Kiss her feet

Hear her roar

Be filled with Awe

URGENT… BREAKING NEWS


Goodness is Life

 

 

We all have seen the crime scene

Broadcasted live on our TV screens

We have seen the blood flowing

We have heard the deafening screams

The murder-weapon is known to all

Signed “with love” by some “chosen souls”

It thundered down with a “gracious” fall

A sigh of relief

followed the storm

It can’t get worse

We all exclaimed

We’ve hit rock bottom

We’ve seen it all

No my dears not so fast

That is simply not precise,

Far from it!

I forgot to tell you,

Mr Worst is yet to come

He is knocking at our doors

.
 .

The camp of gory fantasise their “glory”

Huffing and puffing for their “mighty rise”

“Smite them all” their favourite hymn

Biocide became the madmen surname

Demons of Death, their middle-name

.

Just over there, across the divide

The Camp of Goodness noble, steadfast

A home for love, heart open wide

Not a predator nor a beast

Aggression is vice, he greatly abhors

But when pushed down, he has a bite

For the sake of truth, he lays down his life

Just like life, rich and mysterious

Majestic… graceful… vigorous … arcane

Patience is his middle name

Kindness fills his heart and soul

 
* * * * *

O dear friends, heed my call

“Survival of the fittest” is one big lie

The kind and righteous are the heirs

Most able to love, care and share

With open arms, they fully embrace

Dawn fast approaching, open your eyes

Laws of nature can’t be destroyed

Humanity is here to stay

Forces of darkness knows no way

To put off the light of one faint ray

Swarms of evil can’t exterminate

Seeds of nature, resilient, most pure

Thrive and survive, Divinely signed its DNA

 

Dear friend It’s not a pretty game

But
Abyss is a choice, so is Paradise

Avoid the void, shift your paradigm

Come what may, don’t ever lose hope

With glad tidings, I speak to you

Before the crowd, I gladly proclaim

Polarisation, well on its way

No standing on the fence, as per today

Blessed are the kind, blessed are the meek

Blessed are the ones who stand for the weak

David and Goliath, don’t you recall?

Be the little Davids of our time

Exactly like us, he only had a stone

 

Don’t waste time in pitiful blues

Shed off your pride and grumpy moods

Run to the arms of those who love you

Wipe off your tears and start a new

.

World, I Love You


 
We could learn so much from children, their love, their curiosity, their bewilderment, their optimism, their joy for the smallest things, their innate kindness, their natural ability to forgive and move on, and their resilience and miraculous way they bounce back after a fall, a fight or a cry
 
In times of great upheaval and when darkness prevails, it is the remembrance of what is important that will keep us going.
 
Hope thrives by sustaining and fostering our humanity, amidst the gloomy hours of turbulence and anguish.
 
 
The other day
 
I looked into your eyes
 
 

I saw Heaven
 
My heart giggled
 
Fluttered its wings
 
and flew away

Looking above, I saw my heart growing
 

 

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Growing . . .  growing
 
Filling up . . . Overflowing
 
Pouring out love
 
Embracing All

 

IMG_1216
Engulfed in euphoria
Trees swayed in jubilation
Mountains imbibed within
Meadows twirled in elation
Sand trembled of devotion
Beautiful grins bounced around
IMG_7721
* * *
Dolphins raced butterflies
Creeks jumped into River and rivers dived into the Ocean
Earth splashed its feet in cosmic dust
Supernovas danced while nesting within
Galaxies chased baby stars to heaven
IMG_6764
In one eternal moment of singularity
Time and space ran away
Steadfast, my heart remained
Filled with awe my heart contained
All … there … is
Besotted, swept off my feet
I hooped and looped I swirled with joy
In disbelief, I looked down
Is that me?
Shrinking?
.

 

Petals scattered
A speck of dust . . . faded away
I am gone

 

What Really Matters!


When all gets dark

And life loses its colours
When evil tightens the grip

And the wicked leads the way

When fall falls before its time

and frost grows around
When your heart is torn and worn,

and you feel like throwing it away

Don’t give up, just wait a little while,
Turn your back
Close your eyes and
Remember what you have forgotten
Try to find if you’ve lost, 
Apologize if you’ve hurt,
Forgive if you have been hurt,
Caress if you’ve been deprived,
Pursue, if you have dream
Share if you’ve been bereft,
Giggle if you’ve been aggrieved,
Embrace if you’ve been shun,
Give if you’ve been denied,
Excel if you’ve been scorned,
Feed if you’ve tasted hunger
Rejoice if you’ve felt somber
Accompany those who know


Hold on tight to those you love,

Cherish those who care for you,

Because life is too short
and it is full of wonder

 

Beloved Jerusalem


Ten measures of sorrow God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of pain God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of agony God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of heartache God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of suffering God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of trauma God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of patience God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of endurance God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of bravery God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of benevolence God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of determination God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of generosity God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of modesty God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of tenderness  God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of blessing God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of kindness God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of joy God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of wisdom God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of elegance God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of peace God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of harmony God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of tranquility God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of grace God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of  sweetness God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of compassion God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of gentleness God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of mercy God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of faithfulness God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of devotion God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of love God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of beauty God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of hope God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Ten measures of holiness God gave to the world

Nine to Jerusalem and one to the rest

Only in Palestine


In Palestine, good and evil assemble

In a stark contrast

Staring eye to eye

Epitome of enigma

 

In Palestine, heroism meets cowardice heads on

Standing side by side in broad daylight

No concealment, no pretense

 

In Palestine, kindness puts bitterness to rest

Mercy descends, flakes of heaven, embraces the world

Malice melts away, hiding in rat-holes

“Never forget and never forgive” mantra is brought to shame

 

In Palestine, walls all around

Yet, sitting on the fence is no longer an option

Hearts connects swimming in ether, divine

 

In Palestine, prophets, saints and angels graduate

Words of wisdom cascade abundant

Yet, of sorcery, fiends and devils froth into being

 

In Palestine, hatred is a chain, millennia old

Pulling beasts to Hell of depravity

Yet, love dances with poise and grace

 

In Palestine, meadows of endurance blossom in parched soil

Painting the horizon, Arcadia masterpiece

Tears of elation and whispers of devotion flow

 

In Palestine, tenderness is a melody, hummed by Gaza shores

Filling hearts with beauty and joy

Healing wounded girls and boys

 

In Palestine, love is a rainbow, shimmering above

Lifting to Heavenly splendour

Anguished pained nostalgic souls

 

In Palestine, faith is an ocean

Patience is a globe

Hope is a sky of infinite scope

 

In Palestine, sinners are repentant

The pious clothed in modesty

Lovers are the guides

 

In Palestine, brothers cherished

Sisters crowned queens,

Children adored, fathers revered

Under mothers’ feet Paradise laid down

 

In Palestine, the hungry is fed, the prisoner is embraced

The lost will be guided and truth-seeker will find

 

Wisdom


 

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