In the tapestry of life, the threads of sibling relationships are some of the most vibrant and enduring. Brother's Day is a poignant reminder of this bond, a tribute to the siblings we have, and a memorial to those we've lost. I've been blessed with two sisters and four brothers, three of whom, along with one sister, were taken from us too soon due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This loss has left an indelible mark on our lives, but it has also taught us resilience, the importance of cherishing each moment, and the invaluable support that siblings provide in the face of adversity. Today, I celebrate not just the siblings who are with us, but also those who are present in our hearts and memories. Happy Brother's Day.
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Writing Poetry in a Second Language: My Experiences and Insights
"Poetry is a beautiful form of expression that transcends the boundaries of language and culture. In his latest article, poet Omar Albeshr shares his experiences and insights into writing poetry in a second language and how his Arabic heritage has shaped his work. Join him on a journey of exploring both Arabic and English poetic traditions and discover how writing poetry in a second language can be a rewarding and enriching experience that fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation."
Read MoreStay Home...Stay Safe...Stay Sane
So I haven’t left home for 76 days.
These are my thoughts on the situation:
Nothing is going to be the same ever again. This has put a halt on the whole world. It shocked the world into a state that I don't think it can ever fully recover from.
We went through some of the 5 stages of grief, it began with DENIAL. No one thought this could ever affect them. It will never reach this far. It will never impede upon our lives. This is in one city far away in China. It began with a little murmur in the news. Now there isn't anything else on the news except about this.
The second stage was ANGER when it came here, and it started to affect our lives. Tourism sites, mosques, malls, restaurants, all shut down. People were angry about the person who began this, the bat-eater.
The third stage is BARGAINING, where we are staying put at home, but we're trying to live life as normal as we can, by shopping online and laughing it up, thinking this might blow by quickly.
The fourth stage set quickly after, the DEPRESSION. Being stuck for days, and it seems without an end in sight.
We are just embarking on the fifth stage, and that is ACCEPTANCE. We finally can conceive of the idea that this might last a long time, and it's imprints are going to last for a very long time. Hearing of people you know testing positive, people you know dying. We are finally there, at the point of realization that this is not going to be so easy. People's lives have been touched by this, and it can never be truly 100% undone.
Masks and physical distancing will be part of our lives for a while.
Stay Home as much as you can,
Stay Safe,
and most importantly Stay Sane.
Book Project
My mind is finally set on accomplishing one of my goals in life, which is to publish my first book. The poetry book which I when I was interviewed back in 2000 by Kul Al Ousra magazine said I was ready to publish, and I never had the time to do so.
I am currently reviewing all the poems so that I can see which will make the cut. Upon reading my old poems, sometimes I feel like I was a different person. Like someone else wrote those lines, and felt those feelings. Mind you, I haven’t written in a very long time, and I think I should. Specially if I want to have a suitable number of poems in the new book.
So here is to trying to invigorate my passion for poetry writing. Wish me luck.
Adios 2015
It is the last day of the year.
Can't decide if it's been a good year or a bad one. It has been a roller coaster filled with ups and downs.
I hurt my knee back in January and had my first operation in March. Then I did a second operation in July. My knee is still not back to 100% as I still have a torn ACL, which I will have to undergo another surgery sometime in 2016.
I am happy to have joined on board Sail eMagazine as a columnist, it is the highlight of the year for me. My column is called "You Have My Word" and it is an exploration with a message about the origins of words, terms, phrases and the stories behind them. I have written so far 3 articles for the magazine: The Butterfly Effect, Breaking the 4th Wall, Language and the Perpetual Winds of Change.Please check them out and let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy them.
I have added new photos from my trip to London, and added a new section for my poetry.
Hope you all have a wonderful 2016.