Shrouded Gardenias

Two gardenias arm in arm

Stubborn as a mule

Defy adversity of barren seasons and Northern winds 

Stretch to live in a peaceful land

Spread their delicious scent miles away

Passionate to thrive

Blossom in a midsummer night

Awakened memories of innocent childhood 

Climbing tall trees of happiness 

Planting seeds of joyfulness in the shades of awaited dreams

Shrouded white gardenias embedded in a garden in my book.

TALL I Shall Stand

TALL I shall STAND
On the hot burning pearls of golden sand.

TALL I shall STAND
Running deeply into the veins of a peaceful land.

TALL I shall STAND
My naked chest is BRAVERY 
Engraved with my bare hand. 
  
TALL I shall STAND
Darkness shall not prevail my future 
Darkness shall not oppress the people on my sacred land.

TALL I shall STAND
As an eagle craving to the mountainous glorious ground.

TALL I shall STAND
Beneath my feet crimson blossoms are found.

TALL I shall STAND
Hear the sea beating loudly in my sound. 

TALL I shall STAND
NOT defeated, Unbreakable, Nor bound.

TALL I shall STAND
Freedom from oppression is the essence of a beautiful mind. 
  
TALL I shall STAND
You are the only human of a distinctive kind. 

Dedicated to the martyrs of the world

Najat Alshafie

17 February 2011

I plead to the world

I plead to the world

Stop all forms of violence

Cease the fire of ignorance

Stop the slaughtering of innocent people

In the east and west

In mosques and churches

And everywhere!

I plead to the world

I don’t want to raise any more orphans

Weep day and night

I cry to all injustice, “NO!”

NO more wars or selling of guns!

There is NO black, white, red, or yellow 

But rainbows everywhere!

I plead to the world

Give me a chance to live my dreams

See my future with my own eyes

Have children

See my grandchildren

Let me live a simple life

And die in peace!

By Najat Alshafie

22/3/201