Morning
mourning
the fall of sons
celebrating
the fall of fear
tears of sorrow
joy embrace
morning
is always near
The Song of Rebellion
They said this was all unprecedented but they lied
I have seen this before
like a momentary glimpse
of déjà vu
we have all seen this before
a childhood dream
long forgotten
an aging hope
drowned in tears we do not mention
we have all seen this before
nesting in our souls
waiting to hatch
waiting to fly
higher
come freedom
come
breath in our spirits
and blow out fire
teach us your song
that once was sung
one by one we will echo your verses
teach us that song
the song of rebellion
I know these words
our lullaby when we were born free
there were no chains
just a crown of dignity placed on our heads
but we forgot our song
blinded by portraits of tyrants
polluting our walls
tear them down and draw pictures of our children
write these poems across the skies
rise thunderous voices rise
let the Earth rumble beneath their feet
until their palms sweat
their knees shake
and they remember our song
come freedom come
teach us your song
that will make Pharaohs tremble
do you hear them now?
free souls ensemble
uttering words once forbidden
words we were scared to mention
do you hear them now?
they’re singing our song
they’re singing our song
the song of rebellion
Freedom tree
if it rains fire
we will plant our martyrs
into the Earth
let their souls sprout
spirits ascend
to the highest heaven
and from these seeds
will grow the most beautiful tree
the fruit of which
will smell sweeter
than any pleasure
this world has to offer
if they bring their hounds
to defile our valley
we will bring them war
in every street and alley
and from our veins
rivers will run
to water our tree
and every child
will know its name
and every man will eat
from the fruit
of the freedom tree
The rope
then it was spring
when God let down His rope
some said, “a noose”
some held on tightly and said “all together now”
Valley of musk
I come from the valley of musk
where we used to fast from speaking up
from dawn until dusk
silence was a must for survival
revival was taboo
but tattooed on the chests of those who
fear none who walk this Earth
we walk the path of the stranger
sing the song of the Moses sparrows
in the face of falcon Pharaohs
truth in the face of power
this is the hour where tyranny crumbles
see these devils tremble when they hear God’s name
feel the wind of change across your face
embrace it
let it gently sail our souls through these stormy seas
take us home
so we may kiss the soil
beneath our saints
that have been tainted by tyranny
for too long
but this is our valley
and we shall return
every broken hearted mother
exile and traveler
will break the chains
or remain a slave
afraid
till the day we die
but this is our valley
and we will send
prayers on the wings of angels
oil for their lamps to light their way
guide them through the night
in search of the day
when we will no longer be
afraid
Beautiful brave souls
we need not say a word
our mother’s tears tell it all
our bloody bodies tell our story
ask the Earth that birthed us
what it has seen
these children I bore
are beautiful brave souls
unflinching and bold
how do you hold
the hearts of a thousand martyrs
In your chests?
I do not know
beautiful brave souls
unbroken by
whips and chains
cages and flames
these infiltrators
rabble rousing trouble makers
gangs and thugs
germs and rats
and if that’s the way they’re going to play
then long live the street rats
Lord of the seven heavens watch over our sons and daughters
they are willing to die for You
to rise for You
you beautiful brave souls
how do you hold
the hearts of a thousand martyrs in your chests
I do not know
all that is certain for sure
is that there is no turning back
there is no stopping now
we shall overcome hearts of stone
let them be remembered
the bravest souls ever known
Heart of Homs
shadows of vultures
swim in circles
their eyes
never glance
at fallen heroes
whose souls overflow
with life
eyes of vultures turn instead
to feast on the souls of wicked men
beasts who can teach
the devil a thing or two
their classrooms
are street tombs for the dead
where the smell of bread
is paradise
there is so much death here
yet we
have never been
so alive
Healed
in my dream
I take my fathers hand
we walk together
in the jasmine filled streets of Damascus
rekindling something in him
that has been missing for 30 years
his smile tells me
that he has finally healed
but when I open my eyes I see
the sky is falling
our tears are falling
the minarets of our golden mosques are falling
our sons are falling
in the dark dungeons of Deraa
their scars are calling out to the world-
remember
a baby girl
lies lifeless in Latakia
limbs longing for love
her eyes echo-
remember
when it will be said
“for what sin was she killed”
close your eyes
to see
we stand at the threshold
of something beyond imagination
crossed into the land of the unthinkable
so let them ink our stories on the scrolls of time
that we did not sit back and curse the dark
the dark cursed us
for we broke its choke hold on us
and when they slit the suns throat
left the world so dark
we lit a torch of hope
for the faith in our hearts
will shine brighter than a thousand suns
and we will outshine all their guns
and we will pray until the dawn comes
and we will give rise
to a new dawn
that will dispel the dark
we will no longer have to close our eyes
and dream to see the light
our eyes will be open
our hands will be clapping
clapping not in demonstration
but in celebration
of the dawn
the new age
the new page
where it will be written
that this wound of ours
has finally
healed
Hushed
hush
they will hear you
the walls have ears
hush
they will see you
the streets have eyes
hide
inside your walls or die
perhaps death
is more beautiful
than disgrace
facing God
hushed
clap
let the world hear our thunder
sing
let the heavens hear our voices
dance
let the Earth rumble
beneath their feet
until their hearts gasp
their palms sweat
their knees shake
smile
truth has come
falsehood has crumbled
and all souls will be humbled
on a day
all voices
before God
are
hushed
Numb
my heart can no longer feel
fingers are overcome with numbness
my hand
trembles as I write this
words can not block out the news
can not block out their cries
their tears
unbearable
my chest tightens
breathing has become a burden
this pain is beyond belief
the poison of grief
has but one relief
only One can heal these wounds
please God
we have nobody but You
the world is deaf
there is nobody left
we have nobody
but You
mourning
the fall of sons
celebrating
the fall of fear
tears of sorrow
joy embrace
morning
is always near
The Song of Rebellion
They said this was all unprecedented but they lied
I have seen this before
like a momentary glimpse
of déjà vu
we have all seen this before
a childhood dream
long forgotten
an aging hope
drowned in tears we do not mention
we have all seen this before
nesting in our souls
waiting to hatch
waiting to fly
higher
come freedom
come
breath in our spirits
and blow out fire
teach us your song
that once was sung
one by one we will echo your verses
teach us that song
the song of rebellion
I know these words
our lullaby when we were born free
there were no chains
just a crown of dignity placed on our heads
but we forgot our song
blinded by portraits of tyrants
polluting our walls
tear them down and draw pictures of our children
write these poems across the skies
rise thunderous voices rise
let the Earth rumble beneath their feet
until their palms sweat
their knees shake
and they remember our song
come freedom come
teach us your song
that will make Pharaohs tremble
do you hear them now?
free souls ensemble
uttering words once forbidden
words we were scared to mention
do you hear them now?
they’re singing our song
they’re singing our song
the song of rebellion
Freedom tree
if it rains fire
we will plant our martyrs
into the Earth
let their souls sprout
spirits ascend
to the highest heaven
and from these seeds
will grow the most beautiful tree
the fruit of which
will smell sweeter
than any pleasure
this world has to offer
if they bring their hounds
to defile our valley
we will bring them war
in every street and alley
and from our veins
rivers will run
to water our tree
and every child
will know its name
and every man will eat
from the fruit
of the freedom tree
The rope
then it was spring
when God let down His rope
some said, “a noose”
some held on tightly and said “all together now”
Valley of musk
I come from the valley of musk
where we used to fast from speaking up
from dawn until dusk
silence was a must for survival
revival was taboo
but tattooed on the chests of those who
fear none who walk this Earth
we walk the path of the stranger
sing the song of the Moses sparrows
in the face of falcon Pharaohs
truth in the face of power
this is the hour where tyranny crumbles
see these devils tremble when they hear God’s name
feel the wind of change across your face
embrace it
let it gently sail our souls through these stormy seas
take us home
so we may kiss the soil
beneath our saints
that have been tainted by tyranny
for too long
but this is our valley
and we shall return
every broken hearted mother
exile and traveler
will break the chains
or remain a slave
afraid
till the day we die
but this is our valley
and we will send
prayers on the wings of angels
oil for their lamps to light their way
guide them through the night
in search of the day
when we will no longer be
afraid
Beautiful brave souls
we need not say a word
our mother’s tears tell it all
our bloody bodies tell our story
ask the Earth that birthed us
what it has seen
these children I bore
are beautiful brave souls
unflinching and bold
how do you hold
the hearts of a thousand martyrs
In your chests?
I do not know
beautiful brave souls
unbroken by
whips and chains
cages and flames
these infiltrators
rabble rousing trouble makers
gangs and thugs
germs and rats
and if that’s the way they’re going to play
then long live the street rats
Lord of the seven heavens watch over our sons and daughters
they are willing to die for You
to rise for You
you beautiful brave souls
how do you hold
the hearts of a thousand martyrs in your chests
I do not know
all that is certain for sure
is that there is no turning back
there is no stopping now
we shall overcome hearts of stone
let them be remembered
the bravest souls ever known
Heart of Homs
shadows of vultures
swim in circles
their eyes
never glance
at fallen heroes
whose souls overflow
with life
eyes of vultures turn instead
to feast on the souls of wicked men
beasts who can teach
the devil a thing or two
their classrooms
are street tombs for the dead
where the smell of bread
is paradise
there is so much death here
yet we
have never been
so alive
Healed
in my dream
I take my fathers hand
we walk together
in the jasmine filled streets of Damascus
rekindling something in him
that has been missing for 30 years
his smile tells me
that he has finally healed
but when I open my eyes I see
the sky is falling
our tears are falling
the minarets of our golden mosques are falling
our sons are falling
in the dark dungeons of Deraa
their scars are calling out to the world-
remember
a baby girl
lies lifeless in Latakia
limbs longing for love
her eyes echo-
remember
when it will be said
“for what sin was she killed”
close your eyes
to see
we stand at the threshold
of something beyond imagination
crossed into the land of the unthinkable
so let them ink our stories on the scrolls of time
that we did not sit back and curse the dark
the dark cursed us
for we broke its choke hold on us
and when they slit the suns throat
left the world so dark
we lit a torch of hope
for the faith in our hearts
will shine brighter than a thousand suns
and we will outshine all their guns
and we will pray until the dawn comes
and we will give rise
to a new dawn
that will dispel the dark
we will no longer have to close our eyes
and dream to see the light
our eyes will be open
our hands will be clapping
clapping not in demonstration
but in celebration
of the dawn
the new age
the new page
where it will be written
that this wound of ours
has finally
healed
Hushed
hush
they will hear you
the walls have ears
hush
they will see you
the streets have eyes
hide
inside your walls or die
perhaps death
is more beautiful
than disgrace
facing God
hushed
clap
let the world hear our thunder
sing
let the heavens hear our voices
dance
let the Earth rumble
beneath their feet
until their hearts gasp
their palms sweat
their knees shake
smile
truth has come
falsehood has crumbled
and all souls will be humbled
on a day
all voices
before God
are
hushed
Numb
my heart can no longer feel
fingers are overcome with numbness
my hand
trembles as I write this
words can not block out the news
can not block out their cries
their tears
unbearable
my chest tightens
breathing has become a burden
this pain is beyond belief
the poison of grief
has but one relief
only One can heal these wounds
please God
we have nobody but You
the world is deaf
there is nobody left
we have nobody
but You
