Tag Archive | youth

Marathon

Nov6

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It’s a marathon

Sometimes a bloody one unfortunately

Sacrifices are being made with lives lost or imprisonment

But the energy of the youth propelling this movement is endless

Their idealism and hope for change fuels their cause

They want better lives

They are done with the status quo

They plan and organize 

They march and they chant

And they cannot be beaten into submission

These youth have attracted the attention of the world

People in Germany, UK, Sweden and South America

Have heard their anthem of freedom

Artists are singing their song

The world is watching

Persians overseas and others are walking with the people of Iran

This is a just cause

The demands are simple: woman, life, freedom!

November 6th, 2022

Fists raised up

Oct19

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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

My heart aches

Oct10


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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

Solidarity

Oct6

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The watchword of this movement is solidarity
Solidarity among those who have been wronged
Solidarity among those whose freedom has been robbed
Solidarity among men and women
Solidarity among old and young
Solidarity among Kurd and Lur and Bakhtyari
Solidarity among those who live throughout Iran

People are speaking with one voice
Women and the youth are leading the way
They are trying to silence their voices
With brutality and cruelty, senseless
But this is a giant that has been awakened
It’s impossible to tie her down
All the efforts to quell this fire
Will lead to it further spreading far and wide

The world is witnessing these events
They are hearing the cry of freedom
Women across the world are cutting their hair
In solidarity with the women of Iran
These women are lionesses who won’t back down
They are aware of their own power and will persist
The day is coming that they will celebrate victory
Sadly the price they are paying is very high

October 6th, 2022

Grey skies

Jul10

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The sky is grey

A low cloud cover makes one feel short of breath

The mood is somber and heavy

The time is in the past

When a tornado swept the land

And things were blown away and looted afterwards

When some men lost their place in society

And had to start all over again

A little dizzy from the fast pace of change and destruction

When the lives of youths were left in limbo

Making them wonder what to do

When boys became soldiers

And lives were lost in battle

When one’s political leaning

Could end one up in jail or worse

I wasn’t there during those times

But I’ve heard the stories now

And I wonder how I would have fared

Many of my friends stayed

And lived through the aftermath of the tsunami

There were injustices they witnessed

Some things seemed arbitrary at times

Those days were dark

Now, the sky is still grey

Sometime it’s hard to breathe

Sometimes it rains or it hails

Sometimes winds are strong and savage

And I wonder when there will be a little respite

 

July 10th, 2020

 

A poem about the 1979 revolution in Iran

Not too late

Oct31

It’s never too late…

It’s never too late
To live the life we want to

When we’re young, we make decisions because
we feel we’re expected to do certain things
We don’t do other things because it goes against
the conventions of our time

When the tree is young
It can sway in the wind of do’s and don’t
As it becomes stronger
It can stand firm and tall

In mid-life, with the experience of youth
We know better who we are
What we want
What we need
What we can’t live without

This is the time to live the life we are meant to live
Do what brings us joy
Live authentically

It’s never too late…
No, the time’s just right!

Lida Berghuis
October 30th, 2015

Youth

May20

Youth is feeling free to do what you want
Even if others say it’s impossible
Youth is leading with your heart
More than your mind

Youth is enthusiasm,
Appreciation of life
Youth is realizing that the best is yet to come

Youth is allowing yourself to be silly
And not caring about what others think
Youth is looking for answers
Trying to figure things out

Youth is optimism and
Believing you can make a difference
Youth is about not focusing on
The outer trappings of life

All of these qualities can grow with time
So, youth is not an age, it’s a state of mind!

Lida Berghuis
May 13th, 2013