An Ode for Lifta


An Ode for Lifta

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

Lifta… The healing touch of my grandmother

The aroma of her bread, baked with tenderness and love

Lifta…The hand of my mother against my face

Her gentle fingers running through my curls

Lifta…The smile of “Amal” my childhood friend

Gazing at Jerusalem in the horizon

Lifta… Rambling roses, lavender and jasmine

Poppies, daisies, chamomile carpets

And a blanket of stars

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

Lifta… distressed rocks, anxious roofs and wounded windows

Lifta… fatigued Hills sleeping on each other’s shoulders

Hunched homes, years of anguish and solitude

Insisting not to bow down

Resilient trees embracing the landscape

Refusing to surrender

A pounding tearful stream determined not to drown

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

Lifta… fragrant dreams of little girls

bouncing in the meadows

Lifta… sparkly eyes teaming with joy…

following a baby gazelle down the valley

Lifta… Rainbow giggles of many many children,

singing, dancing, playing “bride and groom”

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

Lifta… Lifta… Lifta

Lifta… the throbbing wound of my heart

The scent of my buried memories seeping through my tortured being

Lifta… the childhood paradise I yearn to re-grasp

Lifta… the last straw humankind could hold onto

To save its humanity

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

I think of Lifta… I weep… like a motherless child

I think of Lifta… I sing like a buoyant hummingbird

I think of Lifta… I tremble like an autumn leaf

I think of Lifta… I haemorrhage like slaughtered lamb

I think of Lifta… I smile…. like a flower

I think of Lifta… I gasp for a glimpse of her splendour

I think of Lifta… I melt with love, so tender

I think of Lifta… I rage… rage with blazing anger

“Sons of the devil”

(Yes, I called you that)

Heed if you have a residue of a heart

“NEVER AGAIN” you said

“NEVER AGAIN” you LIED

Heed if you have a scum of a soul

You destroy Lifta… You unleash your own demise

WRATH as NEVER BEFORE

Torment

Boundless… measureless… bottomless…eternal

It’s your choice

*****

And so it goes

Delightful

Life… goes on

A mystical visit


1528662_10201809197005867_915045215_n


Climbing up a high ladder

Patiently…step by step

Through clouds

Deep into sky

10492388_514955928629628_105142728481554057_n-png_1543673193

There; on the very top… hanging

A piece of heaven

934638_10200767480963617_1363827942_n-copy

 

Stretching beyond time and space

Wrapped up in a sweet musky mist

Of breath of angels and prophets

27271_10200776769395822_1917954480_n

White lilies and red poppies

Growing beneath the feet of girls and boys

As they gently strolled hand in hand

283704_133757373430748_1507405735_n

 

 

Trees spoke of stories of legendary love

Offered fruit, that tastes of paradise

With songs of deep silence

Whispers of peace

And laughter of babies

Dancing rainbows celebrated

599845_133749530098199_764818825_n

 

Up above…

Children with butterfly wings

Flew around their nests

Of green lanterns

Hanging around the throne

Of the Most Merciful, Most high

 

1417588_338942799578870_1406491309_o

In the horizon

Embroidered with letters of light

My home ♥️

The mystical land of

PALESTINE

14069_440039459406279_911574186_n

Only love grew


Only love grew

When I was a little girl

My home was a tree-trunk

On a white cloud

Up…up… in the sky

***

In this world of mine

The sun shone forever

All seasons were spring

And love grew everywhere

In gardens… on trees

 In the streets

On roof tops

In the rivers

In people’s hearts

And on their tongues

***

Visitors to my world

Wondered how

And why

Hate didn’t grow

Hate couldn’t grow

***

The secret was

In this world of mine

 People could read

Each other’s minds

So, they came to understand

***

How others feel

What others mean

Why others do

And where others stand

***

That’s why

In this beautiful world of mine

Only love grew

May-2005

Simple truth


Simple truth

Give me some pebbles to throwPebbles are the pathway to life

The echo of its music stays

Long after the shadow of the tyrant

Fades away

Tell me;

Did you spend your life

Searching for happiness

Running after crumbs of food

Accumulating tons of rotting clothes

Desiring heaps of rusty cars

Building a house of rubble

Chasing a mirage?

Calm down

Sit for a moment


And listen to your heart-beat

Whispering :

Your tomorrow never comes

Your yesterday has long gone

Your life is nothing but this moment

You are no-where; but now-here


Don’t travel far

The dream of happiness you’re after

Is very near; inside


So, give me some pebbles to throw

Pebbles are the pathway to life

The echo of its music stays

Long after the shadow of the tyrant

Fades away

Dreams and realities


Dreams and Realities

Dreams and realities

“There is only a fine line that divides
Dreams and reality”
They say

In my world
There is no line

My dreams and my reality
Are one and the same

Smoothly
Blending in

As colours unite
New hues are born

From blue and yellow
Gentle green emerges

As red embraces blue
Vivid violet comes to life

My universe is a rainbow
Of many… many colours

No lines
No divisions

My dreams and my reality merge
As if smudged
By an artist brush

I… like a feather
Drift in between

Painting by: Peri Miller

Truth and Lies


.


Hasbara classes any one??

You can get them free, on line, now 🙂

http://www.israelactivism.com/training

 

Just watch how they train their hasbara
soldiers to lie, and lie and lie even more, until it seeps out of their ears
and noses!!

*********************


Truth and lies

Lies
like to be groomed

To
be prepared in advance

Artificially
manufactured

Laughable,
not in a funny way

No amount of make-up can hide its ugly face

No trimming or adding can make it flow in lucidity

Still-born,
incoherent, pitiable and frail

Unpleasant
to the ear as much to the heart

TRUTH
however, is spontaneous

Honest, eloquent and natural

It has a power of its own

The glory of truth has the qualities of light

No amount of darkness could kill or obscure

Delicate, sublime, inspiring and pure

Breathtaking
with its splendour

Like
a waterfall;

It
flows gracefully from the heart

Needs
no training for her to shine

Powerful,
relentless, elegant and beautiful

Alhamdulillah

.

A letter to God


 يا ودود 

Ya Wadoud

Dear Most Loving

Here I am

Wandering in the wilderness

Cold… soaking… frightened… lonely… lost

Dripping pain and sorrow

 tears

Arriving

Knocking at your door

Humbly kneeling down

Hands upraised

Face hidden with tears

 64935_522196417800751_96155374_n

Requesting of Your generosity

Appealing of Your kindness

Pleading of Your mercy

 0001 heart

Dear Most Loving

Shroud me with Your bliss

Wrap me up with Your pleasure

Shower me with Your blessings

13174_10151506518853185_303632852_n 

Make no desire in my heart

Greater than being with You

01x 

No aspiration dearer

Than the bounty of Your love

20 

Dear Most Loving

Make me a mouthpiece of Your truth

A fingerprint of Your creativity

An ambassador of Your reality

 21805_304751982966997_1424667661_n

Make me a pathway of Your certainty

 A sign of Your authenticity

A whisper of Your inspiration

223294_373456346063713_715101148_n - Copy 

Make me a fountain of kindness

A lantern of guidance

A waterfall of honesty

A cascade of delight

248573_157627061045001_2057044465_n 

 Make me a footstep

Leading to Your splendour

 0000000000000000000012

Make me a pail

Pouring out love

Watching all content

  resizer_php

Make me a lamp

Glowing with tenderness and warmth

Until none is lost in darkness or despair

 76388_469324609796275_1165470094_n

Make me a cloud

Full of goodness

Raining joy

Planting affection

Flowering passion

Blooming compassion

Fruiting closeness

Picking intimacy

Feeding ecstasy and reunion

32 

Watching all fulfilled

Living whole… serene and satisfied

 307943_421199861296164_628711211_n

Dear Most Loving

It’s only through knowing You

Can distressed hearts

Find tranquillity and peace

541283_357856574297160_2071921429_n 

The wise have said:

“ if you love a thing so much, it will reveal its secrets to you”

 60551_446904885365968_749946672_n

Dear Most Loving

Here I am

An empty vessel

Lift me… Fill me… Use me

As You wish

My will is nothing

But Yours

 51

Dear Most Loving

I am walking towards you

Your promise is true

Come running towards me

 Hold me… embrace me

I am all Yours

66496_404416822965105_667287495_n

Forever Friends


_DSC0195_thumb[3]

Forever Friends 

 

When I was a little girl

I had many… many friends

From all walks of life

Some of my friends were humans

Some were aliens

From far away galaxies

Some from planets

Only near by

 11078080_793197227429757_6432281951761834732_o

Some from the future

Others from the past

Some were Young, others very old

Some could fly, others could only crawl

Some were dark, others very pale

I really had many… many friends

 

10169325_864642876882557_6796873746479733223_n

Some were giants… Others very small

Some were rich… Some very poor

Some were princes

Living in castles

Others were maidens

Forest wooden cottages 

They used to call home

 

970124_558951170807926_1131562245_n

The most wonderful thing about my friends;

Happy and playful, never getting angry

Even if I said or did the wrong thing

They just knew

How much I love them

They also knew

My love is genuine

 

1014276_506727712734015_189404120_n

I used to take them out

Show them around;

Friends from the future

Fascinated with our homes

Our buildings, buses and cars

You see… every thing is different

where they come from

Still… they loved ours

So much

 

Friends from the past

Were amazed by simple stuff 

Every cup and saucer 

Tables and chairs

Radios and TVs

Dolls and teddy bears

No end to their amusement

Many hours of endless joy

We spent together

 

206051_491152024253647_622271269_n

My giant friends would carry me 

As we toured their land

On the palm of my hand

My tiny friends enjoyed the ride 

 

When my rich friends came over

I always made sure

My poor friends were there

Accidentally on purpose, they would meet

Tell each other about their lives

Their very different lives

My rich friends were kind

Often swapped places with the poor guys

Always helped making their lives better

Sharing everything they had

1959550_601800623236086_892905386_n 

My alien friends

The most intriguing

Delightful… and curious

Constantly bemused 

By everything they saw

I really mean every thing

Their whole world was different

The colours of their skies were different

Their suns, their moons, their planets

Oh… what can I tell you!

Shall I tell you about their excitement

Or about their joy

When they saw the sunrise

Swam in the sea

Spotted a mountain

When gazing at a tree

You should’ve seen their faces

As they held a rose

Or when stroked a stone

 

Oh… what can I tell you

What shall I say!

 1780013_612107352205413_4271598674560287788_o

My friends shared their lives with me

I shared mine

I am forever indebted

For the many things they taught me

 I cannot even count!

How to see  everything anew

As if first time

How to feel with those

who are not so fortunate

The most precious lesson

However

How to view the world

Through the eyes of the other

My friends are faithful

Even today

Still come sometimes

Just to say hello

 1506674_764052933677520_7655405255338591642_n

22-03-2006

© Copyright 2006 Nahida Izzat  -PoetryforPalestine – All Rights Reserved

The Question of Suffering – part 2: poems


Hidden dimensions

 

My first son Hassan

Was born on April the 9th

 

You might think

So what… why are you saying it

With such a gloomy tune

What is wrong with 9th of April?

 

You have to be a Palestinian

To understand

For on the 9th of April 1948

The massacre of Deir Yassin

Took place

Where every man women and child

Of that peaceful farming village

Was killed in cold blood

No one survived

Except those

Who pretended to be dead

 

As we celebrate the birth of a new born

With joy

We mourn and grief

Lost loved ones

 

In our midst

Nothing comes insular

Nothing is disjointed

No single colours

 

The fabric of our lives

Makes the most amazing tapestry

 

If you hold it backwards

Looking at the wrong side

You’ll see a mirror image

Of shades of a blurred picture

With loops… knots and fraying thread

If you turn it over

It looks much neater

But still you can’t actually see

The full picture

Only colours and shadows

 

But hey… take a little time

And walk backwards

Further back

Look at the tapestry

From a distance

 

You will be amazed

With its outstanding beauty

All these murky shades

That didn’t make sense to you

Even disturbed you

When you were near

 

From far

These dark shadows

Are precisely what makes this piece

So unique

So spectacular

 

These unfathomable hues

Is what give our life portrait

Its depth

And hidden dimensions

 

Since that day of 1948

Many… many babies were born

On April the 9th

 

Our joys are always stained

With hints of sorrow

 

Our sadness is always coloured

With hues of hope

 

Without which

The tapestry of our lives

Will never be complete

Won’t be as rich

Or as beautiful

 

Don’t waist much time

Staring at the wrong side with fury

Turn it over… walk further back… and feel the glory

 

01-04-2006

****************************************************

Bad things! Good things!

 

 

You should be more assertive

You should have more confidence

In your skills

And your strengths

 

People say

 

But I am truly aware

Of my abilities

I can surely judge

What I can or can’t do

 

I am also aware

Of my flaws

And believe you me

They are so… so many

 

But I am not ashamed

Of my weaknesses

Despite their vastness

They are there

For a reason

 

They keep me in my place

So I don’t grow bigger

Than my own shoes

 

I love my weaknesses

I love my defects

 

Thank you God

For all my imperfections

 

Thank you for my fears

 

For without them

I could live my entire days

Without ever appreciating

How safe my life is

 

 

Thank you for my worries

 

For without them I can never

Fully enjoy peace of mind

And tranquillity

 

Thank you for my pain

 

For without it

I can only imagine

What others go through

 

Thank you for my grief

 

For without it

I cannot sincerely feel

 The heartache of others

How else can I ever

Learn genuine empathy?

 

30-03-2006

******************************************** 

Bliss and beyond

 

A state of delight

Blissful pleasure

Contentment

 Tranquillity

Enchantment and joy

 

If people knew how it feels

They would’ve fought for it

With arms and teeth

 

No privilege

No adversity

 

No gain

No loss

 

No health

No pain

 

No achievement

No catastrophe

 

No triumph

No defeat

 

Can Annihilate

Or nullify

 

 

Passionately… with a heartfelt desire

 

 I want to share

 

22-04-2006

**************************************************

Beyond

 

This love I have for you

 

Holds me, lifts me, carries me through

 

When all is dark

 

When pain is deep

 

When love is scarce

 

When friends are few

 

This love I have for you

 

Holds me, lifts me, carries me through

 

 

September-2005

********************************************

Is it really cruel?

 

People say

What happened to you

Is so cruel… so unfair

To have to lose khaled

 In such an awful way

When you are so much in love

 

I say it is very painful

But not at all cruel

Death is nothing

But a gate way

Everything dies

Everyone dies

Why should I

Be the exception?

 

His journey ended before mine

That’s all

And soon I’ll follow

 

It’s only a matter of time

Before we are together again

We come to life

 Only for a while

 

Also… the law goes

The higher you fly up

The greater is your fall

 

The law goes

The more intensely you enjoy your love

The more painful is your sorrow

This only fair

For some live and die

Without experiencing real love

And I’ve experienced all

It’s not cruel to give something back

 

And to feel more pain

Is not unfair

27-03-2006

****************************************************

  With You I am OK

 

Dear Most Compassionate

Show me the truth

As true

And help me follow

 

Show me falsehood

As false

And help me avoid

 

Help me… say the truth

Help me… do the truth

Help me… think the truth

Help me… feel the truth

 

Dear Most Kind

I am lost

Without your guidance

 

Frail

Without your support

 

Miserable

Without your company

 

Dare I run away from You

Except towards You

 

Is there a place to hide from You

Except under your wings

 

The world has wronged me

Forsaken neglected and ignored

Held me responsible as the victim

Declared me guilty while innocent

Put me on trial although oppressed

Imprisoned me for being abused

 

An abandoned child

Blamed for… being…

 

But if You are pleased with me

I can take it all

Nothing else matters

  13-05-2006

 

***********************************************

The rescue

 

Deep… deep inside…

In the land of sorrow… where I reside

Where only pain reigns

While… passion is resistance

Love grows rebellious

And hope is defiant

 

Grief runs deep

Cutting through hills and mountains

In the caves and underground

Far beyond my reach

 

It was raining agony… that day

Restless… agitated… weighed down

Haunted by my nightmare

You’re never coming home

 

Looking up… into sky

Yelling for help

While the soul murmurs

Here I am God… exhausted… give me your hand… come to my aid

Here I am God… full of sorrow… and anguish…ease my pain

Here I am God… hurt and tired… help me…hold me… heal me

Here I am God… lonely… be my friend and companion

Here I am God… lost… guide me… show me the way

 

And like a dazzling morning at the crack of dawn dispelling all darkness

Like gentle rain drops drizzling over a parched piece of land

Like a rainbow flowing piercing through thick murky clouds

Like sweet scent of love drifting capturing your heart

Like a velvet ruby rose blooming right before your eyes

Like a soft warm blanket in a cold winter night

Like a tender mother’s hand stroking her child

I felt

God’s loving-hand

 

Then…

Then this sweet… sweet comfort

Gently overwhelming

Lovingly embracing

Tenderly holding

Magically transforming

That distressed soul

And troubled heart

 

And in this land of sorrow

Suddenly

Pain is overthrown and Passion regains again

And sweet… sweet comfort falls down as rain

Calm descends

Serenity prevails

Tranquillity enfolds

Joy blooms

And sweet… sweet comfort falls down as rain

 

18- 09-2006

BE


 

BE

 

You declared… BE

And I was

 

 An atom I am… spinning

In your presence

Magnificent

 

A seed… blooming

Thriving on the bounty of your love

Overwhelming

 

A butterfly… rotating

Drawn to your radiance

Irresistible

 

A star… glowing

A sign of your light… upon light

 Spectacular

 

A universe

Expanding… bursting with beings

 A manifestation of your wonders

Majestic

BE… and all was

September-2005

 
© Copyright 2006 Nahida Izzat -PoetryforPalestine – All Rights Reserved
On the Road Again

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” — Maya Angelou

Poetry for Palestine

Palestine, Poetry, Truth-Seeking,

Poetry collection

Work by Rain Alchemist

Shannie Alvarez

A Gentile with a Jewish Heart

BRAINCHILD

gehadsjourney.wordpress.com

Diary of an Aesthete

Follow the Journey ☩𓀙𓃦☉

Global Justice in the 21st Century

commentary on global issues

James Perloff

formerly refugebooks.com

billziegler1947

Email to ziegler.bill@gmail.com

| truthaholics

Exposing Truth Behind Media Spin

No Time to Think

The words, poems, stories and thoughts of award winning writer and journalist, Nic Outterside

Palestine Momentum

Writers For Palestine

مدونة عزت غيث

قوانين، مذكرات، مقالات المحامي عزت غيث مكتب المحامي عزت نصر غيث : عمان - جبل الحسين - دوار فراس - عمارة قدورة تلفون 0797900678 - 0788850180

Strings of Soulfulness

The strings of my life’s soulfulness in the beauty of eternity.

مدوّنة مريم

“Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in relative opacity.”

YA BAKİ ENTEL BAKİ

"İlahi Ente Maksudi ve Rızake Matlubi"

The question of Palestine

Palestine is still the question

لماذا غزة؟ Why Gaza?

An American searching for answers in the Middle East

Rehmat's World

"There is no compulsion in religion," - Holy Qur'an

hussienclimateleaders

The Climate Crises

PALESTINE FROM MY EYES

Generating a fearless and humanising narrative on Palestine!

UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM

Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms.. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next.

The Passionate Attachment

America's entanglement with Israel

Occupied Palestine | فلسطين

Blogging 4 Human Rights & Liberation of Palestine! فلسطين

Mystery Worshiper's Blog

Searching for churches where His law is Love and His gospel is Peace

The Slog

FOR RADICAL REALIST FREE-SPEECH REVOLUTION

Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

John's Consciousness

Exploring our "Inner Evolution"

Sami, The Bedouin.

Writing from and for Palestine

Maidhc Ó Cathail

Writing and Analysis