“A man who stands for nothingWill fall for anything,”1Said El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz,The man known as Malcolm X. He was a minister, activist, leader And so much more than mere roles.He was a passionate person- Fighting for his people’s souls. It’s his vague title heard often:‘A popular figure of the civil rights movement’-Though criticized for controversy,For resolute advocacy…
The world is on fire,The smoke snaking in my ears.It met the swirling air within,The antithesis of dripping tears. The contrast flares high,For both require attention.The smudged lens feels cracked,Lacking resolution. Politics shackled my mind,Imprisoning naïve idealism.Communication is the key,Instead of barred skepticism. Yet we can take small steps,Set achievable goals.The world may be large,But…
When I was in middle school, my friends and I loved writing short stories. We would post them on a forum, eager for feedback from other readers. One friend wrote a story where the main character was a Pakistani girl named Iman – “belief” in Arabic. I clearly remember thinking afterwards: “Well, that’s unrealistic. That’s…
Chemistry of CommunityThe world is made of atoms,Both individual and packed.A combination of customs,Both tangible and abstract. Communities chemically composed,Elementally individual.But energy stored in bonds-Thermodynamically favorable. Each bond a different length,Yet each a notable factor.Changes based on wavelengthBut still can shape character: Our melting and boiling points,Supportive structural integrity.Our awareness and viewpoints,Solidarity and reactivity. It’s…
There is no cloud in the air, What is that smoke? There is no death in the neighborhood, What is that cry? Those Yemen lands are so rugged Over there is Yemen, its rose is fenugreek Those who go never return, Why? Yemen Turkish Folk Song(1) Yemen is a country set at the southeastern portion…
Khawlah bint al-Azwar, fluttering cloth and clinking metal, deep in the heat of the desert; Squares her shoulders, draws a breath. Sends a word heavenwards, Eyes steely behind their shade. No fear must slake her resolve today. The hilt of the blade warms in her grip, the blood thrums under her skin- The spirit is…
Night descends upon the world’s horizon And the moon’s face gleams. A matter of time before the sun’s rising But darkness tears at the seams. And the needle’s eye seems so small, Blind to sanity’s thin thread. An apocalyptic protocol, A frayed knot’s far spread. The fabric of reality is flexible, Perspective the vehicle of…
The Name is quite a quandary, Constantly collecting curators. An identifier oft identified incorrectly, Ourselves the biggest perpetrators. “Hi, my name is Amal,” I said, “Just like a shopping mall.” Though reality disagreed within, I swayed to society’s call. For a year wandering lost, Unfamiliar and alone, Scraping by and trailing exhaust, Too willing to…
I remember walking inside the empty Pauley Pavilion for the first time. Visualizing the arena’s aesthetics, the baby blue Pac 12 logo inside the three-point line on either side, the famous UCLA logo on center court and all the retired jerseys that hanged above the arena’s seating. There was one jersey that stood out to…
When I planned a trip to the Disney Parks in Asia for spring break, I was ecstatic. I’ve been a Disney fan since I was a little kid, and going to Tokyo Disney Resort has been my dream for so long. The day after finals were over (for me, March 12th), I hopped on an…