Every day should be women’s day

7A610E24-80CD-40AD-AFCF-98D9E946A53B


Every day should be women’s day

After all they are our mothers, sisters and daughters

After all it’s women who raise the next generation

They sacrifice their ease and comfort

They are the glue that keeps the family united

They are strong in times of turmoil

They are compassionate and patient

What can men do to show their appreciation?

Treat them like they want to be treated

See them as equals in decision making

Support them so they can achieve their potential

Appreciate all the sacrifices they make

Acknowledge the important role 

They have in educating children

Give them the attention they deserve

Listen to them when they want to talk

Treat them as equals in relationships

Respect them as partners in their lives

Happy International Women’s Day

March 8th, 2023

The answer is no!

5382BBCD-E1D1-45E9-B8D0-63740EBD8FE6

You want me to cover my hair

I say no!

You say it’s the sign of piety

I say no!

You say it will protect me from harm

I say no!

You say otherwise I’ll excite men

I say no!

You can’t convince me to do something I don’t want to do

You don’t realize how strong I am

You have tried to put me down

But each time, you see me rise 

You fear me and my courage 

You should!

I am determined and won’t back down 

I will continue this fight 

I see you are worried and

You should be! 

Women, life, liberty!

March 2023 

Women, life, liberty

E14358FC-BEE6-43AA-AAFA-E32C1FA4E534

Girl children are being poisoned

Why?

Because they fear them

They fear the strength of their character

They fear their desire to for equality

They fear their resolve to achieve it

Why else would they poison them?

Women have shown how powerful they are

How determined they are

How fearless they are

How disruptive of the norms of the regime they are

This poisoning will only strengthen their resolve

It will bing their cause to the world

It will show the cruelty of those in power

And how low they will go to achieve their goals

The day is near that all these atrocities will come to an end

When those responsible will be prosecuted

When justice and equality will return to our land

When women, life, liberty will prevail

March 3rd, 2023

For the women and girl children of Iran

Sunday brunch

3A0835D4-6BBF-42E2-843A-6EBEB215FCB7

Today, I’m happy because we have brunch guests

Covid put a stop to our monthly gatherings with our friends

Even now, the effects of Covid are still there

We don’t get together as often as we used to

It’s hard to put the habits formed in three years aside

It’s hard to remember we can socialize now

Zoom and WhatsApp are great

But face to face meetings are something else

When we sit across from each other 

We breathe the same air

Our presence affects our surroundings

It’s easier to feel someone else’s feelings

It’s easier to communicate love and friendship

Through coming together we can renew our energy

We can strengthen our bonds of friendship

So I’m happy we have guest today

I’m glad to be a hostess today

February 19th 2023

Good side effects

2BA63DCF-DBC5-4D80-903D-949B8DAD7474

Chemo medications have side effects

So, they give you pre-medications which also has side effects

You tolerate the side effects of the pre-meds

So that you don’t have to deal with those of the actual meds

Nausea is one of the main problems of chemo

So they give you drugs to counteract that

Of course, we are grateful 

But what to do with the side effects of the nausea meds?

It’s a tangled web

But one that is necessary

The best way we can remove the cancer cells from our bodies

The same medications that kill the cancer cells

Kill our hair follicles as well

But luckily, this hair loss is temporary

And the hope is that the cancer cells never come back

Our nails can get darkened due to chemo too

But there is always nail polish

Our eyebrows will get thinner

But there is eyebrow pencil to help us out

I should not forget to mention the good side effects of chemo

For weeks I haven’t needed to shave or wash my hair

February 18th, 2023

Chemo session

DD911BF2-76A7-4B4E-97C9-08DE6D9FE023

She is lying under her white hospital blanket, her eyes closed

She may even be asleep

She looks serene 

He is on his phone

Doing something or other

The lady across from me seems to be content to just be

And not do anything

I’m listening to calming piano 

Attached to my IV

Which gives me medicine that will heal me

My nurse, a big, tall lady with beautiful manicured nails

Is sitting at her desk now

Doing something on the computer

We are not allowed to have family with us

So, Albert is in the cafeteria

Having driven me here

And ready to take me home

I am grateful

I feel groggy and tired as I type this poem 

Driving would not be advisable 

One of the nurses is with her patient now

Looking at the device that dispenses the chemo right into our veins

Lots of buttons, telling the time and the kind of medicine being dispensed

And tubes that come out of the device everywhere

One such tube is attached to me

And I can see the drip drip of the medicine

Half an hour to go, says the timer

Five weeks of chemo done

Seven weeks to go

But I live my life

And do what I need to and want to do

At a pace I choose

February 15th, 2023

Let us breathe

 

D320C048-15B0-4010-81E9-F92CB38A95BC
What we want is an ordinary life

We don’t ask for much

Just allow us to wear what we want

What’s the harm in that?

Just allow us to speak freely

What are you afraid of?

Just allow us these normal things

Safety in the streets

Practicing our religion

Equality regardless of ethnicity

Just treat women like you treat men

This is the 21st century

The old ways of looking at the world do not work

Old rules and laws do not suit our society 

What we ask for are simple things 

Just let us breathe!

February 25th, 2023

What a waste of talent

What a waste of time

What a waste of talent

To confine a person with so many gifts 

And why?

Because he cares about the education of the next generation

Because he  cares about good morals and serving one’s community

Because he wants to spread joy and love

And for these reasons he must be confined 

What an utter waste of talent and time 

February 10th, 2023

For Afif Naimi who was sentenced to seven years in prison in Iran for being a Baha’i 1DB80D46-52F8-44EE-A16D-0B2BDE282F5B

Your prize

87CC1C9A-8E35-443B-808B-29048109219D


The suspense is over

You got the prize

It’s seven years

Seven years of sacrifice

And as they hand you the trophy

You smile and give thanks

That you have won yet again

This is the second time

Some will say 

This is not a prize

How can it be?

They can’t see the medal 

The standing ovation

Or the podium you stand on

But in your heart you know

This is better than any recognition you could have got

Your face is serene

Your heart is full of love

You gladly accept this honor

And what is to come

February 8th, 2023

Dear Afif Naimi, a former member of the leadership of the Baha’i community in Iran, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after having already spent ten years there in the past.