I read this days ago aloud to my husband and could barely utter the words because the grief poured out of me. We read news about the oppression of Palestinians and it hits hard but your poem made an indelible mark in my heart. 💗
Thank you for your solidarity and your humanity, kathleen... to both you and your husband 🫂 it touches my heart to know you're out there caring about us ❤️🖤🤍💚
That does not surprise me in the slightest. The fact you were able to write something so effective despite the heavy emotional toll is impressive in itself. I'm so sorry that this is a part of your experience of life.
As difficult as these realities are to write, I believe it's important to get the truth out there... I was raised with this truth, and most people don't fully understand the depth of it... I'll be sharing more in future posts as I'm able to write them 🙏🏽🖤🫂
Slowly he's softening... I can't really say he's much better, but he's able to accept a hug from his family now, and that's an improvement... he's mentally and emotionally still very haunted, which I don't think anybody expects any different... does spend most of his time inside... he hasn't really been able to get out much or get back to his activism, but I know that he has expressed that he wants to get back there eventually.
Gosh this is devastating. Devastating because we know this is happening right now and devastating because it’s so beautifully captured in your words. Thankyou for sharing 🖤
As someone who has shown solidarity with Palestine since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, I had tears in my eyes when I read this. It is the reality of the brutality inflicted upon Palestinians by the occupation regime. Insha'Allah, we will soon see a Free Palestine 🇵🇸🌷🤲🏻
Thank you for your solidarity and your humanity... truly from my whole heart... I just hope my father gets to see and be welcomed into a free Palestine before he passes inshallah 🙏🏽
Love it. As a person from the west..I can easily make an argument that Palestinians support terrorism. I’m not big on Israel either. But I constantly remind myself that this is a situation where people in power make the decisions and the person on the street may love their country, but they certainly don’t sanction their actions. I never thought I would be in that situation in my own country…but I am. These are real people.
Thank you for this, Jim. Propaganda is an incredibly powerful thing. My family on my father's side is Palestinian. We were forcibly removed from our land in 1967 after Israeli settlers threatened my family with extreme violence if they did not leave. My father, grandparents, aunts, and uncles lived through that reality. Because of that history, I have a different perspective on who is labeled a terrorist and who is not. When a family is forced from the land they have lived on for generations under threat of rape, violence, and death, I think it's fair to ask who is terrorizing whom. That said, I agree with you about one thing completely... these are real people. That is exactly why I write poems like this. I want people to remember that behind every headline is someone's child, someone's parent, someone's family. I hope the situation gets better in all our Countries 🙏🏽
I’m with you. IMHO, Israel was completely wrong and out of line in the 1967 war. I mean we can all criticize the 1947’s actions in Europe that carved up the post-war world based on a map that didn’t show standing standing cultural boundaries that led to problems in the Middle East and Africa but it doesn’t help the people on the ground.
I read this days ago aloud to my husband and could barely utter the words because the grief poured out of me. We read news about the oppression of Palestinians and it hits hard but your poem made an indelible mark in my heart. 💗
Thank you for your solidarity and your humanity, kathleen... to both you and your husband 🫂 it touches my heart to know you're out there caring about us ❤️🖤🤍💚
This was hard to read. You penned this with such care and depths. I have no words, only feelings and gratitude for you and your words. <3
Thank you so much for reading and feeling this one with me, Petra... I appreciate you 🫂🫂🫂
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you’re here. <3
A sorrow painted in words that cannot be ignored,
I wish this hadn't touched you, like it obviously has.
It crushes the spirit to understand
humans can be like this, to fellow man.
Yet witness it, we must.
Call it out as wrong, unjust.
For in the telling shines a light
On Palestinian plight.
Thank you for your words in poetry... touched my heart, truly... I appreciate you, my friend 🫂🫂🫂
🫂There are no words. The rage and grief are real.
I understand... thank you for reading and feeling this one with me, love... I appreciate you 🫂🫂🫂
Thank you
Thank you 🙏🏽
No mother should ever have to go through anything like this. Your writing is important. Never stop. Love you sis.
Thank you, sis... and you're right that no mother should... it's heartbreaking 💔🫂
Heartbreaking. Beautifully written.
Thank you, Seb... it took me a while to process this before being able to write on it 🫂🫂
That does not surprise me in the slightest. The fact you were able to write something so effective despite the heavy emotional toll is impressive in itself. I'm so sorry that this is a part of your experience of life.
As difficult as these realities are to write, I believe it's important to get the truth out there... I was raised with this truth, and most people don't fully understand the depth of it... I'll be sharing more in future posts as I'm able to write them 🙏🏽🖤🫂
100%. I’ll be here to read and to learn. Thank you for doing the hard part.
I appreciate you, Seb 🥹 thank you for your humanity, my friend 🫂🫂
This is so heartbreaking. I’m sorry this hit your family so close. No mother should know this kind of pain.
Thank you for feeling this one with me, sis... it's been a hard few months for sure 💔🫂
I can't say much.
Has he gotten any better?
Slowly he's softening... I can't really say he's much better, but he's able to accept a hug from his family now, and that's an improvement... he's mentally and emotionally still very haunted, which I don't think anybody expects any different... does spend most of his time inside... he hasn't really been able to get out much or get back to his activism, but I know that he has expressed that he wants to get back there eventually.
The title 'Stolen' has a sharp, immediate tension that makes you want to read on.
Thank you, Gabriel 🙏🏽 it's meant to be all encompassing and hold meaning for all that's stolen... I appreciate you reading this one.
Hi Laura b, are you live in gaza? Just asking this for curiosity.
I don't... I'm from Beit Jala in the West Bank, and now I live in Ecuador. But I have lost many loved ones in Gaza.
I.am.sorry for your loss ♥️
Thank you, my friend 🙏🏽
What it looks like when humanity fails.
A powerful and heartbreaking read Laura.
Thank you for sitting with me in this, love 💔🫂🫂
Heart breaking 💔
It took me a month to write this because I had to keep taking breaks… the reality breaks me 💔
Gosh this is devastating. Devastating because we know this is happening right now and devastating because it’s so beautifully captured in your words. Thankyou for sharing 🖤
No problem. Thankyou for writing such an intimate piece 🫂
🫂❤️🖤🤍💚
Thank you for feeling this one with me... it means so much to me 🫂
As someone who has shown solidarity with Palestine since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, I had tears in my eyes when I read this. It is the reality of the brutality inflicted upon Palestinians by the occupation regime. Insha'Allah, we will soon see a Free Palestine 🇵🇸🌷🤲🏻
Thank you for your solidarity and your humanity... truly from my whole heart... I just hope my father gets to see and be welcomed into a free Palestine before he passes inshallah 🙏🏽
Ameen 🤲🏻 🇵🇸 ♥️ 💫
Love it. As a person from the west..I can easily make an argument that Palestinians support terrorism. I’m not big on Israel either. But I constantly remind myself that this is a situation where people in power make the decisions and the person on the street may love their country, but they certainly don’t sanction their actions. I never thought I would be in that situation in my own country…but I am. These are real people.
Thank you for this, Jim. Propaganda is an incredibly powerful thing. My family on my father's side is Palestinian. We were forcibly removed from our land in 1967 after Israeli settlers threatened my family with extreme violence if they did not leave. My father, grandparents, aunts, and uncles lived through that reality. Because of that history, I have a different perspective on who is labeled a terrorist and who is not. When a family is forced from the land they have lived on for generations under threat of rape, violence, and death, I think it's fair to ask who is terrorizing whom. That said, I agree with you about one thing completely... these are real people. That is exactly why I write poems like this. I want people to remember that behind every headline is someone's child, someone's parent, someone's family. I hope the situation gets better in all our Countries 🙏🏽
I’m with you. IMHO, Israel was completely wrong and out of line in the 1967 war. I mean we can all criticize the 1947’s actions in Europe that carved up the post-war world based on a map that didn’t show standing standing cultural boundaries that led to problems in the Middle East and Africa but it doesn’t help the people on the ground.
The decisions made by powerful people have shaped generations of suffering all around the world, unfortunately 💔