Pain, pain, pain
Pain that does not go away
Tylenol and Oxycodone are not enough
Though they do take off the edge
The best remedy is distraction
With a movie
Or chatting with a friend
Physical pain is better than the emotional one though
That pain has no immediate remedy
Distraction works sometimes
But I prefer physical pain
My spirit is still strong
My attitude positive
These days will pass
And what will remain is a faint memory of pain
August 13th, 2022
3 days after surgery
His last time on WhatsApp was
2022-07-30, 4:15 pm Montreal time
21 days have gone by and his fate is not clear yet
His family knows little of what’s going on
His friends worry for him daily
How will the authorities collect
Evidence of espionage when there is none?
Another arrest!
Was ten years in prison not enough?
And for crimes he did not commit?
For loving humanity?
For serving his community?
I talked to him the day before he was arrested
He was well
He was thankful
He was jovial as usual
We pray for him
For fortitude and strength
Qualities he has in abundance already
I know he welcomes this sacrifice
As he did the previous ones
I know he is grateful to stand up
For what he believes in
I know he is victorious
Whether in captivity or freedom
August 20th, 2022
For my dear friend, Afif Naimi
Cancer survivor is a heavy title to bear
Cancer can be dangerous
Surviving it is good however
But I think there is still a stigma that goes along with cancer
If not, we would talk about it more than we do
It’s kept hush hush most of the time
You hear years later that someone had cancer
And you never found out
Of course, it’s not something to advertise
But talking about it reduces the stigma
And increases awareness for others as well
So, I’m a cancer survivor
Healed and happy to live life as before
But perhaps it won’t be exactly as before
The scars will fade but won’t go away
And the checkups will continue regularly
But that’s a good thing
Like anything else in life
Our experiences can be bearers of gifts
Depending on how we view them
And I’m grateful to be on the path of healing
With the support of my friends and family
August 19th, 2021
As I read the messages of love from my friends
My eyes tear up
So much kindness and care is evident in them
Messages from my classmates around the world
Messages from my friends in Montreal
Messages and calls from my family
Nothing can go wrong with so much love
I believe in the power of prayer and positive thoughts
I believe in their role in healing
If anything, this experience has shown me how much I’m loved
If anything, I can see more clearly the goodness
In everyone’s heart
August 9th, 2022
The day before my operation for breast cancer
Should I be worried?
Somehow I’m not
With the support of my family and friends
I feel strong
I trust my surgeons to do a good job
And I know I will be spoiled with kindness afterward
Challenges are blessings sometimes
I now know better how many people care for me
There are many people I can lean on
Thankful for every one’s love
I know all will be well
All will be fine
August 7th 2022
A few days before breast surgery
What keeps you going in the face of injustice?
My spirituality he said
I believe in karma
That we reap what we sow
That there will be justice in the end
What keeps you going, he asked
Hope that the future will be brighter
That what we do to better the world matters
What keeps you going, he asked
Love for my fellow man
Belief in goodness and truthfulness
That living a virtuous life is important
No matter what life throws at you
What keeps you going, he asked
Faith in a higher power, he said
August 4th 2022
Dedicated to my dear friend Afif Naimi who was recently arrested in Iran because he is a Baha’i
I don’t think of myself as a poet
A writer, perhaps
A recorder if my reality
One who writes to be consoled
To be understood
To understand
To explore
To share
To celebrate
To make known
I’ve always written
And I always will
Writing is part of my identity
And if what I write moves someone
Or brings them joy
If it has meaning for them
And makes them feel less alone
I feel blessed to be part of their world
June 29th 2022
I should be sad
But I feel uplifted
I should be scared
But I feel hopeful
I should be upset
But I feel grateful
I should be perplexed
But I understand
And the only reason for this is my Faith in God
And the outpouring of support from my friends
I feel buoyed by their love
I feel like I’m flying in the rare atmosphere of their care and compassion
And I’m basking in the sunshine of their affection
I should be sad
But I’m not
June 16th, 2022
It’s like a Cashmere blanket
In purple and orange hues
Soft and luxurious
Silky to the touch
I put it around myself
And feel cocooned in love
I feel cared for
This is the love from my friends
Who are here to support me through challenging times
The caring words of my friends
Their soothing and thoughtful messages
Are like fragrant rose petals falling from above
Perfuming the air
They are like a spring breeze on my fevered brow
Like a river of life giving water
Like a fire that warms me up in the dead of night
My friends
My treasures in this world
My friends
We’ll together reach the shore
June 2022
After my diagnosis with early stage breast cancer
A samurai
Proud and strong
On a background of mustard and grey
The sweater I knitted for Albert, oh so many years ago
In those times
I had the patience to follow a knitting guide
Row by row, colour by colour
Sometimes only knitting one row or two
I don’t remember how long it took me
To finish this project
But it probably took months
And when it was ready
Albert wore it gratefully
It now sits in our closet
A relic of the past
But when I think of all the time and effort
That went into making this gift of love
I feel proud
June 6th, 2022
lida's musings 