Yours is the face we wake up to,
through our eyes and in our minds,
and the face that wishes us to sleep
the night the missiles fall.
Yours are the eyes that glisten like the rain
that puts out the phosphorus flames.
Tears of sorrow and joy.
Yours is the nose that knows
the difference between two za’tars,
the difference between smoke from home
and smoke from where home once stood.
Yours is the smile that promises to stay,
facing the fuming military men.
Resistance of this kind doesn’t fail.
Yours are the cheeks that cushioned our heads
since the very first of our days.
Roles reversed but occupied still,
rest your head on mine, mama.
Yours is the neck that has never curved
nor bowed to oppression of any kind.
Dignity is your weapon of choice.
Yours are the creases and the wrinkles,
etched as proudly as our history,
each representing a trial and tribulation
of a mother stolen from.
And yours is the son, the daughter, the Palestinian child
who will hold your hand
and bring you home.
I know of no other group of individuals in the entire world that has experienced, on a long-term scale, the vast range of emotions that Palestinian mothers have experienced. For decades, every success, every moment of pride, every ray of hope has been met with a strangling occupation serving no other purpose than to break the spirits of Palestinians worldwide. Yet the occupation can’t ever prevent them from raising the generations of Palestinians defiantly chipping away at the occupation and its prejudiced foundations.
We are often asked about the heroes of our movement. Government figures make international headlines and aid agencies demand recognition but at the core of our struggle is that very same woman who nurtured and instilled in us the dignity that comes with the Palestinian identity. Our Palestinian mothers are the ones who make up the backbone of the struggle as they are the ones who teach us, live for us, and dedicate themselves to presenting us with the sovereignty and the land that was once stripped away from them decades ago.
The heavens lie beneath the ankles of our mothers, right above the native soils we will soon set free. Mama, this one’s for you.
Sami Kishawi
Our mothers are stronger than any missile aimed at our homes, any wall the separates our families and tougher than a brigade of Israeli soldiers.. Love my mom
I love this. Real heartfelt and moving.
Oh my….This is SO Beautiful!! I am sending all my Love and Peace to you all!!
Dear Sami,
This is so heart-opening. If it is alright with you, I will reference this in my thesis on Gaza’s children and their families with your name and your website. With love and light,
Noelle
Sami,
Please let me know if I have permission to use the poem in the thesis with your name and website and thank you.. If you could just email me or leave a reply here, I would appreciate it
Peace,
Noelle
For some reason, I kept thinking behind every great man is a great woman. I don’t need to mention the many, MANY great women from our (Arabs) history, but they were all mamas or became mamas at some point Really beautiful post!
This is beautiful, I hope you read this to your mother.
Very nice and beautiful ..
That was so beautiful…
i have to mention this book that I think is a must in every Palestinian family’s home, it embodies the voices of our Palestinian great grandmothers, called “Threads of Identity” by Widad Kawar. I found it on the publisher’s site http://www.rimalbooks.com. Cannot recommend it enough, I got a signed copy form Amman during its launch, its such a treasure.
ya allah this is so beautiful <3.. thanks for sharing Sami
Perfect.
Dear Child of My Sister In Faith,
Allah love you & make your life blessed.
Dear child your words touch my heart, inshaAllah
All our children see our efforts.
This mother of your Brother in Faith sends her love
To your Mother & The Precious Mothers of Palestine.