Tag Archive | freedom

free play

Po

“Creativity is free play with no rules”

This speaks to me

This frees me to be who I am

To create what I want

Not to judge myself or my work

Creating should be fun, not a burden

Creating should bring us joy

Rules create restrictions

And creativity needs freedom 

When we create

There is no right or wrong

What we create is a reflection of who we are

Others may not understand it 

Or may be critical of it

But that should not discourage us

What we create is valuable at all times

Sometimes the finished work may not be what we expected

Sometimes we learn a lesson we can apply later

But continuing to create is the way to success

Success in sharing our voice

Success in being a conduit for the forces of the universe

So, let’s play

Let’s create and be joyful 

Let’s not worry about rules

As they say, rules are made to be broken

There would be no innovation

If everyone kept doing the same thing 

November 8, 2023

*Rick Rubin

I say no!

You say cover your hair

I say no!

And my daughter says no 

And her daughter will say no

It’s not possible to control half of society

There has been an awakening

You can’t turn the clock back

You put more forces on the street 

Go ahead 

This is not a battle that you can win 

One woman here

One woman there 

We are supporting each other every day

Our dark long hair is flowing on our shoulders 

And down our backs 

The wind plays with it joyfully

You hear my laughter as I chat with my friends

We will bring joy back  

Times have changed 

Jail time and arrests don’t frighten us

This is a worthy cause 

Each generation will be bolder than the one before 

And things will be different as time goes by 

What you want is against reason

And it’s plain to see 

Women are smart and they know that 

You say cover your hair

I say no! 

Nov 2, 2023

You are victorious

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I see your long black beautiful hair moving side to side

As you walk with your back to the camera

Sometimes your hair is blond, sometimes curly

Sometimes mid-night black

Strong like you

Luxurious

Unabashed 

Confident 

I see you standing up for your rights

Fear has left you 

Intimidation does not alarm you

Unlawful laws don’t deter you 

A few angry men cannot control you 

I see you walking tall

I salute you, the women of Iran

And the men who support you

Times have changed

And the dictates of a regime in turmoil

Cannot stop this evolution 

You are victorious 

July 19, 2023

Freedom cries

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When the price of protest songs is solitary confinement

When rappers end up bring tortured

When freedom of speech is non-existent 

When so much in your life is controlled and inspected

Freedom cries 

Liberty dies

Justice is hand-cuffed 

And beauty must hide

When youth leave their country

Because they don’t see hope 

When corruption is rampant

Inflation roars 

When the retirees and teachers protest

When the prisons are full 

When the courts are only a show

And lawyers get arrested

Tears run down the face of a nation 

And joy is hard to come by in most places

But no matter how dark the night  

The dawn will come and the sun will rise 

May 14th, 2023

Let us breathe

 

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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

The secret of the song, Baraye (For…)

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What is the secret of this song?

Why did it touch so many hearts?

Why did it become the anthem for a movement?

Why was it worthy of winning a prize?

The song was a cry for freedom

Freedom from nonsensical restrictions

Freedom to express oneself

Freedom from oppressive rules

The words of this song expressed the desires of a people

A people who have suffered for so long

People who are beaten for how they dress

People who are jailed for what they say

The lyrics of this song expressed what was needed

To show the world what was happening in Iran

The days of carrying out injustices without others knowing is over

What is happening is laid bare for all to see

The words that bubbled up from the soul of a young man

Have reached the world

The song has been sung everywhere

The truth is there to be heard

This is the secret of this song 

Feb 6th 2023

For Shervin and his song of freedom which won a Grammy

Nobility

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If they don’t treat women well

It doesn’t bode well for the rest of society

If they don’t treat religious minorities well

They will eventually denigrate other groups as well

The thinking that sees one group as better than others

Eventually will see everyone else as other 

Only those in power will be immune to oppression 

When they don’t treat women well

It means one day they will not treat you well

Let’s stand up not just for our own rights

But the rights of every marginalized group in society

This is the sign of nobility 

November 7th, 2022

Close your eyes

 

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If I entice you with my beautiful locks

Which is a gift from God to adorn my face

The problem is you, not me

If my bare ankles arise in you sensual thoughts

The problem is you, not me

My natural body is to be celebrated, not hidden

Would you cover up a bouquet of roses because it’s too beautiful?

Close your eyes instead!  

Close your eyes if the price of your lustful thoughts

Is my imprisonment under layers of cloth

Close your eyes if you can’t handle God-given beauty

And sexualize what is natural and part of life

Close your eyes

Don’t put me in bondage because of your weaknesses

Close your eyes

 

November 4th, 2022

Fists raised up

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The fervour of these youth

The anger of these youth

Their fists raised in the air

Their hearts full of hope

These youth are speaking up for freedom

They are tired of being told lies

They want a different future

And they are sacrificing their lives

The passion of these youth

Throwing away their scarves

Showing what was hidden

For years now

These youth are being arrested

They are dying

Because they want a different life

Because they are no longer afraid to speak up

I’m proud of these youth

I honor their cause

I stand with them

Until there is freedom

I’m not paying a price with my life

Or with my imprisonment

I can only speak up with my pen

With my fists in the air

I’m awe-struck by the bravery of these youth

Climbing walls without headscarves

October 19th, 2022

Anthem of unity

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The hallmark of this movement is unity

Unity between the university students and their professors

Unity between the Turk and Lor and Bakhtyari

Unity between the less fortunate and the affluent

Unity between workers and society

Unity among the students in high schools

Unity among the people marching in the streets

Unity among young and old

Unity among all strata of society

This is unprecedented in Iran

This revolution has a beating heart

That of valiant women and girl children 

This revolution has strategy

Creative ways in expressing their demands

This revolution has momentum

It’s a movement that cannot be stopped

The dam has broken and it can’t be shut

I salut the women and girls of Iran

I salut the university students and professors

I salut the workers who are on strike

I salut the business people who close their shops

I salut their cries for equality

I salut their courage which is awe-inspiring

I salut their perseverance and steadfastness

I salut the audacity of those who walk around without their head scarves

This road may be long

Many lives are being sacrificed

Many are spending their time in captivity

But there is no turning back

The world is watching in admiration

And I pray and hope that the dawn is nigh 

October 18th, 2022