I was made from the ribs of my mother
She taught me love, as much as she taught me sorrow
That inner strength is a form of self-love
That one day, I will make make it
She taught me as much as I taught others
In another universe, we might have been soulmates
Alas, I was twenty years too late
I write about my love for her in secret
Who have I become?
Her words –
“شدي حيلك”
Get a hold of yourself.
My father’s backbone completed me
He taught me patience, as much as he taught me acceptance
That I should give others grace
To bury my rage, for I cannot silence it
He taught me as much as I taught others
Not once have I not relied on him
No man will love me as much as he does
His words –
“تغافل”
Ignore it. Let it be.
I write about my love for them in secret
How did we get here, my dying flame?
I walk forward now, knowing
That every bruise I carry is also a story
Of love, of survival, of becoming whole again
My words are my last gift to them
“من جروحي”
From my wounds.
3 Comments
“I write about my love for them in secret”
What a line!! And what a title of a poem!! I really love the repetition of the “taught me as much as I taught others.”
There’s also the bits that stand out starkly like the speaker’s father being a backbone but then they never relied on him. It’s such a push and pull of emotions.
This piece speaks so much to me. Thank you for sharing and I hope to continue to read your breathtaking work!
I love it. My parents are the reason I can live and not just exist, hats down for them good parents.
Your use of both Arabic and English languages make it so relatable and unique! Keep it up :)
If I haddd to pick favorite lines:
“ I walk forward now, knowing
That every bruise I carry is also a story
Of love, of survival, of becoming whole again”
❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 in love with this piece Nada, congrats on your first piece out, and inshaAllah many more to come. Can’t wait for the world to behold your words. ❤️