It’s like a rebirth
Every time I get out of a depression
Yes, I can mourn the time lost
Be upset that I found myself in the valley of fog again
Or I can be grateful
To have my energy back
To feel like writing again
To laugh out loud
To plan projects
To be creative
And fully participate in life again
You forget what you have till you lose it
You can take so much for granted
Even the cloudy days don’t bother me as much
When the sun shines in my heart
Jan 19, 2023
Physical violence won’t subdue the spirit of these freedom fighters
The wounds they suffer will not weaken their resolve
Their spirits are strong
You can pummel their flesh
You can shoot their bodies
But their spirits are strong
They will rise again stronger this time
November 4th, 2022
It’s been years that I’ve been wondering when will freedom return to Iran
When will women be able to choose how they dress themselves
When can they freely and without fear walk in the streets
When will they not be considered the weaker sex
When will their contributions to society inside and outside the home will be celebrated
When can they bike and swim and sing and dance
When can they be the voice of half of their communities
It’s been years
I’ve hoped
And then my hopes were dashed
Then a glimmering of a dawn
Before darkness enveloped that land
It’s been years
And I’ve thought to myself sometimes
I will return to Iran one day
But that day wearing the headscarf will no longer be mandatory
Women will show their lovely hair
And laugh and sing with joy about the freedom that has been so long in coming
October 11th, 2022
My heart aches for the people of Iran
For the young boys and girls in the streets
Who sacrifice their freedom and sometimes their lives
Standing up for what they believe in
Their hearts are on fire
Their rage against injustice fuels their actions
They know their rights
They know they are deprived of them
And they can no longer stay quiet
It breaks my heart that speaking up for their rights
Can lead to their death in my country of birth
That these young lives are snuffed out so cruelly and easily
As if their existence matters not
I feel deeply for the values they are fighting for
Covering one’s hair is not a sign of modesty
Why should women hide their beautiful hair from view?
All the excuses that are given are just that, excuses
Behind these dictates are the desire to subjugate women
And these things are as clear as daylight to the youth of Iran
These brave girls who die for lighting their head scarves on fire
Will be remembered long into the future
Their lives will be celebrated and their courage will be lauded
Years after those who jailed them or killed them are gone and forgotten
October 10th, 2022
What do women of Iran want?
Equality!
What does that mean?
To be treated with respect and dignity
To participate in all arenas of society
Women want to wear what they want
And not be controlled in the name of Islam
They want to feel the wind in their hair
They want the end of the separation of women and men everywhere
They want not to be told what they can and can’t do
They want an end to the harassment they have long endured
October 8th, 2022
As life slows down
We get a chance to look around us more carefully
No longer rushing about
We can linger and ponder
Longing for connection
We find new ways of reaching out
Technology is crucial in our lives
People passing away
Makes us reassess our priorities
We look at our lives and think what makes us happy
No longer having easy access to material things
We wonder how much we actually need
When life is simpler
And there is more time for contemplation
We can rearrange our lives
May 27th, 2020
If someone’s words hurt me
I’m supposed to forgive them instantly
My heart should supposedly
Not be offended by anyone
But these are very high ideals
And not easy to live by
Sometimes it’s good to receive a dose of humility
Sometimes it’s good to come back down to earth
There is a freedom in flying high
But you can also fall
December 13th, 2018
We can disagree on many things
But we can agree on the beauty of art
On the heights a poem takes us to
On how a painting moves us
On the sublime feelings we get from music
Art lifts our spirits
It touches our souls
It enlightens us
And as we share with each other
These beautiful things
As we celebrate what we have in common
We feel closer
And what can be more wonderful than art
As something to have in common
May 15th, 2018
Doodling and dawdling
Writing with nothing specific in mind
Just letting my mind explore
And go where it wants
A waste of time?
On the contrary
Our minds need play time
Down time
Creative time
When the results don’t matter
And are not judged
It’s like dancing freely
Like no one is watching
Very liberating
Rejuvenating
And exhilarating
At the same time
So, I let my pen
Move across the page
With no agenda in mind
This is time for me to
Nurture that part of me
That used to get neglected
And left out
February 26th, 2018
Hold me tight
Protect me from all that’s around
Be my shield in the time of trials
Enhance my beauty
Strengthen me
So I can withstand the winds of time
Together we’ll be more fortified
Together we’ll represent unity
And solidarity
Till the end of time
November 24th, 2017
lida's musings 