Tag Archive | poem

I say no!

Nov5

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

It’s only your body

Oct29

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It was difficult to lose my hair

Mom, it was only your body

You looked beautiful anyways 

You eyes shone bright as always 

I have scars across and under my breasts

Mom, you know that the physical matters not

Your spirit is strong and untouched 

I have little dots tattooed on me for radiation

Mom, no one sees them anyway

Your smile is as beautiful as always 

I have a portocath in my arm

It pulls sometimes when I stretch

Mom, it’s only your body

And you are as active as before anyway

I no longer have my breasts 

That’s also only your body

Your soul shines bright everyday 

October 27, 2023

The gift of time

Oct27


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When you overcome an illness

There is a sense that it was meant to be

That you are meant to be here still

And continue this physical existence a little longer

When you overcome an illness

You don’t take life for granted

You know that your time on this earth is limited

And you need to use it wisely 

There is nothing wrong with our existence after this life

As the spirit’s life is never ending

But we are here for a purpose

And need to use our talents and abilities

In the service of our community 

When you overcome an illness

Life becomes more precious

Time becomes more valuable

Projects becomes more urgent 

Family becomes more important

And you become grateful for the gift of time

October 29th, 2023

Lida things

Oct4

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I am Lida, doing Lida things

Making decisions on a whim

Thinking about them deeply later

Being impatient

Unable to sit still

Needing a change of scenery regularly

Writing in a coffee shop

Pouring my heart out

Without writing, my life not complete

Ready to plan a trip anytime

Go anywhere

Visiting friends and family

Wearing bright colours in the winter

And dresses all summer long

Enjoying bling on my fingers

Appreciating abstract art

Loving collage with Washi

Making my crazy collage cups

Enjoying deep discussions 

Loving laughing out loud

What is life without joy and meaning?

Thinking nothing will ever go wrong

Until it does

I’m the queen of optimism, seriously! 

But in all this I need a rock

A calm person I can rely on

Someone who can make me laugh

A constant presence that will support me

I am Lida doing Lida things

Being encouraged by those who love me

October 3, 2023

A dream visit

Oct2

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I saw him in my dream last night

It had been a while

He was in long term care

And I was visiting him

He was just waking up from a nap

And he was happy to see me

He was in a wheel chair

He was not in his best shape

I usually dream of him as a healthy man

Wearing a beautiful suit and standing tall

Now, he was frail

We spent some time together

I wanted to take him out for a stroll

But he said he was tired

So I reluctantly said good bye

I wondered to myself why I wasn’t visiting him more often

And I felt sad that he had to be alone so much of the time

September 26th, 2023

Doing Lida things

Jun8

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I am Lida, doing Lida things

What might those be?

Going somewhere new

And losing my way when returning home (pre-GPS times)

Bringing home jalapeño lemonade instead of regular lemonade

As if that is something that exists and I should check 

Not listening to the doctors’ instructions 

And considering them suggestions

Doing something wrong over and over again

And not learning my lesson 

Doing my writing or collage very fast

Is that being inspired or just not having enough patience?

Cooking meals that take no more than an hour

Long drawn-out cooking is not my thing

Doing gardening in white clothing

Not bothering to change

Doing a lot of silly things despite my age

What is age but a number?

Enjoying travelling, the farther, the better

Seeking adventure and enjoying interacting with other cultures

Making decisions really fast

And then pondering if I’ve made a good choice

Laughing out loud in a museum 

Wondering why we look at such old paintings 

Wearing dresses all summer long

Pants are not my favourite apparel   

Many of the things I do are from being impatient

Being directionally challenged

Being stubborn 

And thinking I know better

Bring silly 

And enjoying laugher and having fun  

I’m simply being Lida, doing Lida things 

June 6th, 2023

Looking forward

May29

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Need to look forward not backward

When looking backward I’ll miss my times with Nick at home

Our early morning chats as we had breakfast

And the rest of the family was asleep

Seeing him make lunch with left overs each day

Asking me, “can I take the whole thing?”

Giving himself lots of time so as not to rush in the morning

Reminding him to take two Cold Fx when he was sniffling

And wondering if he had got enough sleep

But as I look forward 

I’ll enjoy Nick and Magalie coming over for dinner

Or somethings brunch

Planning get aways together when their busy schedules allow

Watching them decorate their place 

And create a cozy space for themselves

And thank God for the internet

We no longer live in the same house

But he is a few clicks away

And he answers fast

There is also is FaceTime

Children leave home

It’s inevitable

But no one said it’s doesn’t require some adjustment time

May 29th, 2023

Fifty nine

May17

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How do I feel at fifty nine?

I feel hopeful

I feel content

I feel excited for the future

I love that I have a chance to write and publish

I love that I can share my experiences and feelings with others

I’m grateful for the children we’ve raised

One of whom is about to get married

I’m grateful for a wonderful marriage

Which has stood the test of time and trials

And has brought me comfort and joy

I’m grateful for amazing friends

Who love me and support me

So, I feel pretty good

And look forward to the years to come

May 17th, 2023

What I write

May4

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What you see is what you get

What I write is genuine

There is no pretence

There was a time I could not express myself

My thoughts and feelings remained hidden in my heart

Maybe I was afraid to share them

Maybe I didn’t know how

I remember those days clearly

And the helplessness I felt

As if something was stopping me from speaking

And I would wonder why

Well those days are gone

I can be myself now

Especially when I write

What you read is who I am

Plain and simple

I write from my heart

May 4th, 2023 Continue reading →

Prisons in Iran

Apr29

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Prisons are usually a place to house 

People who are dangerous to society

In Iran, that is the case as well

But prisons also house people who are dangerous to the regime

Writers who criticize

Environmental activist who tell it as they see it

Members of religious minorities

Those who oppose the government

Those who take part in peaceful protests

Those who lead these protests

Prisons have become the gathering place of 

Those who want change and are not afraid to talk

April 28, 2023