ANNOUNCEMENT

THE POETRY COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

YES! There are outstanding entries yet to be posted.

Please do not worry!

No winner will be announced

until all entries have been posted,

and a notification has been circulated

to encourage voting

for a two-week period.

The voting period will be announced soon, insha'Allah.

Additional information regarding announcement

of winners coming soon, insha'Allah.

Your patience as we experienced growing pains

in this year's premier event, has been highly appreciated.

It was the first year out, and scheduling conflicts

deterred pending entries from being published in a more timely

manner, and for that please accept our sincerest apologies.

THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!

Muslimah Writers Alliance

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Share Competition PRESS RELEASE with your friends, insha'Allah.

Click HERE to Join The Academy of American Poets

Copyright © Muslimah Writers Alliance 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to the MWA's First Annual People's Choice Poetry Competiton Blog!

The People's Choice Poetry Competiton

The Muslimah Writers Alliance First Annual People's Choice Competition held in conjunction with National Poetry Month, April 1-30, sponsored by the Academy of American Poets, is a free-style category contest open to anyone age 12 and up.

If you would like to enter your poem in the Muslimah Writers Alliance First Annual People's Choice Poetry Competition, please be sure to include contact information when emailing your entries to: PoetryContest(@)MuslimahWritersAlliance.com. Limit: 3 entries per person.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: APRIL 25, 2006. Contest 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be announced and winning entries posted May 1, 2006, Insha'Allah. (Prizes to be announced at an upcoming date.)

Copyright remains exclusive to, you, the author and is shown at the bottom of each entry.

Once your entry is submitted, please also subscribe to the MWA First Annual People's Choice Competition Blog (form to the right), in order stay up to date with new competitor entries.

VOTING: Each entry will be voted on by YOU the reader! This blog has been set up to receive comments (votes), however, only registered users will be able to vote via the blog in order to deflect duplicate votes from being made. If you do not wish to vote as a registered user, you may cast your vote via email.

A comment (vote) link is shown under each entry. When commenting (voting) on an entry please leave your Poem Rating. Each poem is rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Any comment/vote that does not specifically include a rating will not be counted as a vote.

This event is designed to support creativity and fun with writing in honor of National Poetry Month! Submit your entry today and don't forget to share the blog link (www.mwapeopleschoice.blogspot.com) with your friends, insha'Allah!

Visit The Academy of American Poets at www.poets.org

Copyright © Muslimah Writers Alliance 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 36 - You and I

You and I

You and I, we travel together
Hand in hand, we walk the same path.

I see the calm cool canopy of trees,
The gentle rustling of leaves,
The sunbeams dancing through the branches,
But all you see are the pebbles on the path,
The dirt on your recently polished shoes,
And you ask, "When will we get there?"

You and I, we travel together
Hand in hand, we walk the same path.

I see the rainbow of colorful wildflowers
Filling the air with a sweet, heavenly smell,
The world with absolute pure beauty,
But all you see are the bugs buzzing around
Fearful of their possible sting
And you ask, "When will we get there?"

You and I, we travel together
Hand in hand, we walk the same path.

I see a fuzzy little caterpillar,
A tiny example of the Creator's perfection,
Scurrying across the path,
But, SQUISH, you blindly take a step,
And end its short journey,
And you ask, "When will we get there?"

You and I, we travel together
Hand in hand, we walk the same path.

In no time at all, we get there.
I, with my heart full of immeasurable riches
Peace and tranquility, and a deep appreciation
For all that's around me,
But all you have is what's on your shoe.

Copyright ©2006 Amerah Akhter. All rights reserved.

ENTRY NO. 35 - ImAn (faith)

“ImAn” (faith)

You’ll come through for me
I just know

In ways I never expected;
Like when I’m busy feeling
Selfish or rejected…

By You,
You’ll come through for me
I just know

Just as I feel alone
or misunderstood;
And things are not feeling
like I think they should

The drop of Your Grace
Waters my dry soul

Again and again
Time after time
Before and after
Always and forever

Wherever I come and wherever I go
Unexpectedly,
You always come through for me
I just know.

YA Allah Huuu...
From the unknown depths of
my tender Heart,
Please allow me to thank You.

Copyright ©2006 Masha Mehryar. All rights reserved.

ENTRY NO. 34 - Bliss

Bliss

When the sun sets in the west
The moon appears with stars in the rear
I long for the days when I can just gaze
At these beautiful scenes so my mind can dream.

The toil of the day will mean nothing to me
The soothing night came with perfect harmony
To ease the tension and break all desolation
Serene satisfaction, God's creation is a consolation.

As dawn breaks, a breathtaking picture
Mesmerized by the hues of wonderful mixture
That never stops to overwhelm
The heart cries with joy all the same.

A day that will bring new hope and aspiration
To fill it up with new ideas and action
Energized to conquer the mountain peak
But I am only an ant, puny and weak.

The revolving nights and days is a sign
Of the evolving marvel of all kind
Splendor of the universe, infinite wonders
Felicity blitz, a gift from our Creator.

Stride to pursue the eternal bliss
Daily repentance and ironing the crease
Our creator provides nature as assistance
May Man reach the great heights of his existence.

Copyright © Umm Muhammad 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 33 - Life

Life
Life is such an enigma
we are born and we shall die
it makes me wonder where the purpose lies
God, you say you've created each
for a purpose they are to serve
Please tell me where I stand
Do I serve the purpose?
or the time is yet to come
for me to understand
what I have been created for?
Or am I to be satisfied with the saying,
"They also serve who only stand and wait?"

Copyright © Mueena Dawood 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 32 - Mirage

MIRAGE

We have all come to a conclusion
thinkin
this is it
our spirits are illiterate
all the way back to our ancestors from Abraham to Malcolm X
we've been mentally programmed
thinking with such
haste
impatience
laziness
and weak-mindedness
suffering from ill vibes controlling our hearts
unenabling us to let go
we need to free our minds
free our souls
break free form these mental chains and start maintaining
fertilizing our brains with nourishing knowledge
stop acting so dumbfounded
manifestations of our transgressions are blossoming into
expired petals that fall into flames
like cornrolls
i feel we should unbraid our thoughts
into
optimistic conversations of beautiful things
like
the most high
and his dean
like these jeans I'm wearin
i wish i could change my soul into another
size
number
or shape
like onyx
our hearts are pitch black
we need a old rag
to physically open our chests with our bare hands
to dust off our hearts
clean out our souls
why must we be so material
we should be more
patient
like the fetus
in the mothers womb
waiting to be born
into lifes venoms
diluted life
no sustenance
dead earth
wasted soil
we walk around here like dead zombies
its a shame were insane
thinkin we can make it out here on our own in the dark
lost souls
rummaging around lookin for flashlights
when we should be seekin the real light
with the light of the MOST HIGH and our Nabi
we can be free
free like almond trees and colored skies grasping no free will
our Allah and his Nabi is the source to everything
the founders of what true light is
when the creator created the light of our Nabi
our souls revolved around it for years we could never fathom
we've revolved ourselves around other things like
city lights
fire works in the sky
the light in her eyes
the light in his pocket
the light on TV
we got the cable back on
but its still nothin to see
we need to stop staring into space
hibernating
waiting for the seasons to change
stop encompassing our lives around this artificial light
get off this mirage and remember what's really shining
we're robbing our souls for faithless glare
tryin to nourish it with synthetic reality
forgettin this life is counterfeit
we're slowly evaporating into dust and soon we'll be extinct
its best for us to go back
retrace our steps
so we can get in touch with what's genuine and stable
because in due time
Allah is gonna get what's His
when he blows this universe away into dust
there will be nothing left
no more sunny days
no 31 flavors at baskin robins
no bling bling
no ENYCE
no more ecko red
and no more worm beds
the only thing that'll be left will be our exposed bare selves
standing alone
holdin our deeds in our right
or our left hands
its up to you to decide which hand you want your text to stand
right or left
which side will you choose?

Copyright © Tasleem Nurr 2005. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 31 - Starving Angel

Starving Angel

Head lowered, hands outstretched,
Passing by, thinking you are a lie,
Another beggar with gold under your cloth,
Hidden in clothing resembling a moth.

Empty utterances passing in the air,
Has life really treated you this unfair?
Harshly torn apart from humanity,
Utterances in lack of sanity.

Keeping your eyes to the ground,
Pictures that are formed by sound,
Elapsing into time,
Yet in Allah’s blessed prime.

Thoughts back to you haunt my soul,
Has wrongful judgment taken its toll?
Were you an angel in man's cloth?
Angel with the wings of a moth?

Since when did Allah so test me?
With the hunger of a plea,
Or did my heart betray the mouth of one so needy,
Forming a picture of one so greedy.

In EMPTY hands outstretched,
Passed by, thinking you where a lie,
Yet, nothing but skin and bones under your cloth,
Hidden, in clothing resembling a moth.

Copyright ©2006 Heather El Khiyari. All rights reserved.

ENTRY NO. 30 - Authentic

AUTHENTIC
And then he came
reversing temporary beliefs given to me by my physical family
saving me while freeing myself to a land called knowing
knowing the truth
true life
life is what you make it they say
so let's make peace by giving peace upon one another
the peace that was given to us by our spiritual family
before our physical selves were created
a different neighborhood
different addresses
much foreign from this life
something so false
transparent
we call this home
we all live under invisible rooftops surrounded by four walls made of nothing
just lampin on this mirage
grew up with my eyes taped shut
unaware
not knowing
real reasons
true life
real issues
real people
i know of this pious woman
would stand in rags with her empty belly full of nothing but rocks tied to herself
keeping hunger pains away
giving everything away
not sleeping nights from her exhausted mind
unsettled
knowing someone didn't eat that day
daydreams
we abuse them for scape goats
escaping from here
base heads
baby mammas waiting for her knight in shining armor
stainless souls dipped in black sut
rubbing against others
secret lovers hurting others
masculine ego causes him to beat her everyday or nothing
she just wants to love him
kids eating from trash dumps outside city clinics
a witness to aborted babies wrapped in plastic ziplock bags
our ungrateful selfish ways keeps us from knowing
worshiping one another
false creators
idols and prophets
predicting lies tied with false dates
visions they know nothing about
i found the most high buried under my brief beliefs
the supreme being
the engineer of these worlds
from the seven secrets so beautiful my physical eyes have never seen
to this false advertised situation we call home
we spend our lives packing bags for hotel rooms and suites with double beds instead of trying to get to that mansion with the whitest of picket fences
I'm out of breath from carrying the burden of free will
will we ever take on the characteristics of the morning sun breathe in its source of light while giving us orange trees that blossom the sweetest flavors of this life?
birds that start their days before the crack of dawn
for the only one that gave them life
life is breath
breathing in conscious experiences
gasping and choking for the need to know
we've all conceived seeds of false identities
swimming in cesspools of lying knowledge
now its time we give birth to them and shed ourselves of invalid afterbirth
relieving us to the land of knowing
knowing ourselves

Copyright © Tasleem Nurr 2005. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 29 - The Manifest

The Manifest

Since you're together
Things are not the same as ever
There's no one to talk to
Nobody suggests me the right things to do

When you're together
I miss you, brother
I miss you very much
Like something's gone from my heart

Then slowly I realized
That there's Someone wise
Someone's enabled me to decide
Whether something is wrong or right

No matter how far I am
He's always close to my heart
No matter how bad I am
He always accepts my taubat

Ya Rabb, The Almighty God
Forgive my wrong doings in the past
Lead me to your guided path
To be a Moslem with an ikhlas heart

Copyright © F. Abubakar 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 28 - placing intentions

im diggin you. is that okay. every part of you. today. wool sweater. brown cords. chapstick. leather coat. vintage mind. vintage clothes. vintage thoughts. concealed nafs. modest ride. humbled speech. simple home. beautiful. your essence. melodic. im feeling. your rhythm. its written. in staff notes. arranged. in sunnah. your gaze. lowered. your standards. higher. and. im. trying to be. your intendant. is that okay.

Copyright © indiigo "quiet" klyne 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 27 - Subhan'Allah

cornerstore coffee shop. reading. i see him. slightly in my peripheral. thinking. in just that moment i am reduced to deeper silence and soulfelt attraction. peaked. i gotta lovejonesbrownsugarlike feeling. i find myself lost and found with and in his nur. allah forgive me. i begin searching for a tradition or a surah. subhan allah, im dazed. in the haziness of memories i cant recall. this man, im sure i don't know at all. yet he feels so familiar. he walks in front of me. from me, not one word spoken. this brother has got me completely open. i know hes leaving, although hes not rushing. i want to grab his hand, and ask him if he feels something. like does he want me or does he love me. i feel so connected. in just that moment he looks in my direction. we both pause. caught in an islamic clause. i lower my gaze. and he walks away. and all i can say is...

Copyright © indiigo "quiet" klyne 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 26 - Good Night Light

Good Night Light

short of sixty the unspoken slow grasp
claimed him for taken

the grief hasn’t relieved
my mind ponders to
trips in ancient lands he adored,
Father-like and graceful
he taught me what I am on
the walk in the Pyramids ripping
my thin sandals and sharp sand
between my toes the Nile we crossed together
in the cool of the night’s breeze calls me,
to pay my respects to his honor.

between the Potomac and the Nile,
silent, warm tears remind me
behind closed sockets
you squeeze my shoulders,
"wait until you see ... this Nile ... and these Pyramids."

I smile and let my tears fill rivers and monuments

Copyright © Hafsah Elsayed 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 25 - Africa's Famine

Africa's Famine

Limp skin hanging so loose
Neglect and selfishness being the only excuse
Leaders acting like they don't care, with too much pride
Thoughtless excuses they decide,
To let their people suffer and die
Because they are too mighty and high!
The famine they knew for sure was coming
But they tried to hide that which was forthcoming

Arrogance and loss of self-respect
Leads to this type of neglect,
Not of themselves but of the ones who follow
Their condition now, unbearable and hard to swallow
These bastards today don't even care
About their people's condition which is too hard to bare
All they want is the riches and fame
Which in case you didn't know is wack and lame!

Shapelessness due to the excess hunger
Especially in those younger
Nothing more than mere heads on lifeless bodies
And over here all we care about is thanksgiving and Christmas goodies.
Digging and scraping for any small morsel
Because they don't have it as good as Gretel and Hansel
My brothers and sisters they are dying a slow death
Waiting, hoping for a miracle to save them from their last breath

How come the eyes of the world are closed?
To this humanitarian crisis exposed
Niger, Malawi, Sudan and Chad
Our ungrateful attitude is something that makes me mad!
We have it all but still fail to praise the Lord
Or even give some of that which we can afford
All they want is some food
So open your eyes and hearts and offer some help dude!

Nkosi Sikelel Afrika!
Sung by the exceptional Zain Bhikha
Is definitely a prayer I join in on
So that God will let a new light on Africa dawn
And save them from this heart-wrenching dilemma
Preventing us from destroying our neurolemma
Give to this noble cause
And maybe it'll erase some of your flaws.

Copyright © Wafeeqa Azeem 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 24 - Haram Eid

Haram Eid

Many weeks before the preparations for Eid starts
All the girls just wanna go there and make some marks,
Long lasting imprints in the minds of the brothers
They wear tight little dresses that reveal rather than covers
Today clothes are being worn as tight as can be, just to reveal
Whatever happened to it being a thing the modest wear to conceal?

But wait the brothers aren’t any better
They just sit there in wait for that special love letter
The brothers come all well dressed to match their girlfriend
A bouquet of roses in hand waiting for just the right moment to send
Then they go even further with this haram romance
And try to go in the corner and have a private conversation with a satisfying glance

Leme now tell you what the parents do
Actually it’s more of what they don’t do, that I’m into
The way that the moms dress aren’t far from their daughter
They seem not to heed the fact that with Allah they are heading into some hot water
The dads just give some quick tips and encourage their son
Telling him to go out and find a girl, for the day has just begun

So as you can see Eid's for a lot of people are filled with haram
Everyone in the room knows what’s going on but they turn away with no hesitation, just calm
The imam sits there and gives a khutbah about this
But everyone’s mind is on the menu list
As a jamma’ we then get up and pray in a rush
Because the women need to go and reapply some blush

I really wanna know whatever happened to the remembrance of Allah,
And bowing down to pray a serious and legit salaah?
What ever happened to halal fun,
And celebrations for this joyous occasion with your family and loved one?
Can someone please tell me whatever happened to strengthening our faith,
And sticking to chanting takbeer as per the hadith?

I so wish I could live back then with the prophets
So we can sit and admire the planets
And everything else that Allah created with such wonder
Under the clear night sky we would sit and ponder
While still beating the duff and enjoying this bounteous day
But not before we had all bowed down to pray.

Copyright © Wafeeqa Azeem 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 23 - I am Muslimah

I am Muslimah
Before Allah but me on Earth, He made Muslimah
In the twinkle of my father's eye
A prayer in my mother's heart
I am Muslimah
My husband from Allah
My children are blessings from the same
I am Muslimah
A scholar, an educator, a teacher
I am first, Muslimah
Daughter, sister, aunt
Wife, mother, friend
I am Muslimah
I am questioned, I am glared
I am assumed, I am stared
Still, first
I am Muslimah
Do I care? Do I dare?
To conform to you, because of fear?
I am Muslimah
I belong to Islam, I serve Allah, and Mohammad is his Messenger
This is my faith, and truly, yours too.

I choose to submit my life to Allah. Islam is my faith, not so much that I choose it, but it chose me. The love for the struggle, to suppress the innate, to seek refuge for protection, the tears I cry are for the love of Allah. I cannot express anything other.

I am Muslimah.
I stand strong. My head is high,
For Allah.

Copyright © Khadiagne Abdelmonaim-Hassaneen 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 22 - be inspIred

be inspIred
let your heart speak volumes
let your miNd wander down the path
of angels voices and wonders past
let your Soul relinquish its thirst with cool,
Pure sips from the stream of knowledge
engage your thoughts and let the world hear your voIce
enlighten the benighted and empoweR the frail
inspirE

Copyright © Sarah Runyon 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 21 - Puzzled Heart

Puzzled Heart

I can turn a tear into a smile,
Bring laughter to a room,
Soothe a wounded heart,
But, I remain puzzled about my own self,
About what I symbolize.
I must find a way to become liberated
A large extent of deception with in me
Tries to hold me behind from where I need to be.
But I’ll sit and wait - I will not go backwards,
and when I am ready to face myself,
I will stand again.

Copyright © Madelene Salazar Cobb 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 20 - Parcels in the Summertime

Parcels in the Summer

Think of the past,
of the time long ago,
earth and sky.
To reach to the world below,
to consume,
The root of the mountain,
that fall like the
Drop of dew,
leashed vines that bear bitter
And poisonous grasped,
in minagual and seated wine,
Made fro venom of snake,
raised ahead.
To tear off an arm or a scalp,
riding in splendor across the sky,
riding through the cloud to come to my aid,
to kept the parcel,
Secure in a land full of corn and wine,
where
Dew from sky waters the ground,
when fortunes of life would be welcomed
to know the parcel in the summer.
Greatest obstacle, you have to occur.

Copyright © Chima Ugo 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 19 - Provoked

Provoked

A people under watchful eyes
feel the heat when the sun rises
to bring forth burning fears reflected
through magnifying glasses,
bitter sweet and tragic.

The aftermath of seasoned wounds
after scores of backs have turned,
empty shoes void of understanding,
perspectives lacking.

The only sounds are of click clacks
when angry masses attack
hidden enmities under lines too thin to stand behind.
Minds are racing, suspicions surfacing,
just like clockwork a people gratuitously provoked react.

The world’s weight on shoulders seems lighter than straws
that break racially profiled backs.
Understand the frustration, a product of supposed liberation
of a people who never questioned the freedoms
of those who recently felt the need to stand up
for their right to free speech.

I feel the need to express my feelings about recent happenings
that have put my people on theatrical display,
same plot different script, media madness has the press
rushing to get out their cameras.
Nothing sells better than conflict,
nobody cares to report stories of war torn countries
unless it’s of benefit to someone rich.

World audiences zoom in for better bitter views,
the lesser of two evils: “Come! Look what happens
when we hit them where it hurts! What barbarism!”
I don’t stand for violence, but I do understand
that even animals hate being locked in cages,
basic rights violated, poked with sticks and taunted.

However, I refuse to be swept away
by the waves of hysteria caused by shifty politicians
wishing to make a fool of me and my beliefs
with one strong pull on supposed puppet strings.
Another “I told you so” win for the right wing team
whenever we react the way in which they need.

My people, I feel the pain
yet this is not the way to show the world
what we are not,
the violence needs to stop
so these labels on our foreheads can finally drop.

New world orders new world phobias
to quickly replace old ones of anti-Semitic sentiments,
tomorrow we’ll be told to hate someone else,
reminiscent of popularity contests
young adults go through in high school.

Every group will have a turn on powerful merry-go-rounds
that spin truths faster than officials pulling triggers
on innocent individuals,
that spin truths faster than we the people can untangle
webs of deception spun by our leaders...

Copyright © Suraya Mahumed 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 18 - 100% Friends

100% Friends

My heart weeps
As all this poison seeps
Deep into my body
Ridding it from all the melody,
Of life and Allah’s blessing
Now I have to go find a dressing
One to cover up the wound
That keeps on getting taller than the tallest mound

A true friend it one who trusts
And one that is just
To the sacred bond
That goes far beyond
The point of you caring
And memory sharing
A true friend knows the meaning of 100%
Their trust makes them shrug off all the torment

Allah Ta’ala said
For all Muslims to avoid every single shred
Of fault-finding, slander and suspicion
A true friend would never commit to this type of violation
Especially if it hurts another Muslims honor
Society today just wants to devour
And turn brother against brother
And cause drifts between one another

As Muslims we are different
Particularly if striving for taqwah to be our accomplishment
We aren’t just any other society
We are Muslims following one deity
We come together and form a bond
So that each and every one of us is fond
Of the fact that each individual is respected
And under this united ummah we are all protected

Too much tashweesh goes on,
From darkness till dawn.
Our memory seems to fail us
In the midst of all this distress
Love for your brother as you would yourself
100% trust is hard to find in itself
Dear friend if you trust ME
Then Allah will place guidance in your heart to see

Wrongful accusations is what I have deal
But you should already know that I don’t have zeal
Or the strength to defend
A true friend should know that my ways I’ve mend
For the love of Allah and His way
Far away from this nonsense I try to stay
Tales passed on from person to person
Changed to suit them and to have some fun

Ina mal amalu bin niyaat
Is every righteous person’s path
Only Allah know what lies in the heart
So think twice before you pierce it with a dart
Not even a true friend knows what lies there
So be careful of what you hear
Do just by each other
So some kaafir shaitaan will have to go and bother

By Allah’s grace
I therefore rest my case
True goodness needs no defense
Look into my eyes and immense
Get lost and drown in my newfound strength
Hopefully you’ll see the great length
That I had to go to
In order to open up my heart and show you

I am a Muslimah with an unclear past
That came and passed
Just like everyone else
I too had to take shaitaan and repulse
Ridding that dirty creature from my soul
So that today I can stand strong and whole
So true friend say you trust me 100%
And rid me of this torment

If in my destruction
I started this production
Then may Allah forgive me
For I bow down to thee
Oh Allah your help, your love,
The purity from above
Is the only thing I seek
So please my Lord bring solitude to this weak!

Copyright © Wafeeqa Azeem 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 17 - Parcels in the Summer

Parcels in the Summer

Think of the past,
of the time long ago,
earth and sky.
To reach to the world below,
to consume,
The root of the mountain,
that fall like the
Drop of dew,
leashed vines that bear bitter
And poisonous grasped,
in minagual and seated wine,
Made fro venom of snake,
raised ahead.
To tear off an arm or a scalp,
riding in splendor across the sky,
Riding through the cloud to come to my aid,
to keep the parcel,
Secure in a land full of corn and wine,
where
Dew from sky waters the ground,
when fortunes of life would be welcomed
to know the parcel in the summer.
Greatest obstacle, you have to occur.

Copyright © Chima Ugo 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 16 - The Love of Family

THE LOVE OF A FAMILY

My dear husband
The one whom Allah sent for me
You not only protect me
But you let me be free
Alhamdulilah, I know you
You are special in many ways
You love me and hold me dear
And help me through dismay.
You work so hard to provide for us
For your family
Your young daughter and me
You pay the bills
Which I know is hard
And supply food, clothing and water.
You are strong and a leader
And you know that I love you
Not only for the sake of Allah
But my love for you is true.
You pick me up when I’m weary
And you encourage me to strive
You make my days not so dreary
And I feel like your friend
And your wife.

Oh my wife,
My precious jewel
How I love you so
I know I may not express it well
But I want to let you know
That without you
My whole life
Would feel somewhat incomplete
And I admire everything about you
From your head right to your feet.
You are a loving mother
You are strong
And you are kind
You give food to the orphans
And you care for the poor and blind.
You are shy with others
But this isn't a thing to end
I love that you are pious
Except when with your friends.
Your heart is so amazing
And your love will never cease
You work hard for Allah
May he grant you Jennah and peace
You wear your scarf so proudly
And I know sometimes it's hard
But you try your best to avoid Haram
And always do the Fard.

Oh, our precious daughter
How we love you so
You are the noor of our eyes
And you make our faces glow.
Your face is so innocent
Your eyes are wide and bright
Your full of curiosity
Always keeping us in site.
Oh, our lovely daughter
Such a wonderful gift from above
You fill our hearts with happiness
And you fill our lives with love.
And no matter what our day was like
Whether good or bad
No matter if we are joyous
Or if our hearts are sad
You can always brighten up our day
A smile makes it all go away
We love you more from day to day
What a glorious creation of Allah.

Copyright © Umm Sajidah 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 15 - In Our Hands

In Our Hands

Today we traverse the narrow passes of hardship
And waves of challenges lash out and batter our ship
Still more waves reach into the ship and snatch so many of us out to sea
Hunger and fear and frustration and faith are our only fare
Too angered to give up, too scarred to forget
In our trembling hands glows the future
In it we are at once the title and the supporting lines
Every step of our path towards nobleness
Every word for eternity etched in greatness

Copyright © Mouna Ammar 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 14 - Wolves

Wolves

Howling in the dead of night
The wolf stands strong; ready to fight
Able to run, chasing its prey
Or sneaking up by night or day

It's not long till hunters come
Who have no pity for what they've done
Killing animals furiously
All animals in misery

Wolves fight, chasing away foes
For they stand strong on their toes
These animals, very wise
Sense predators and have sharp eyes

Yet, still, they are killed
And stopped from howling on that hill.


Copyright © Sabera Akhter 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 13 - Waterfalls

Waterfalls

The beauty, the shine
All falling in one line
Somehow, I wish
That this was all mine

The splashes, the force
What a lovely course
And a lovely water source

The water is falling
Never stalling
But still a great sight
With such strong might

All over the world
Prettier than a pearl

The most peaceful place to visit
Is a waterfall

When water falls
Through invisible walls
Then it calls
To each and all.

Copyright © Sabera Akhter 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 12 - The Friendship Tree

The Friendship Tree

When I feel that you are around
I hear a familiar sound
I feel like I have an invisible friend
It's like a problem I need to mend

Your face is up, right in the sky
To reach you, I know I'll need to fly
I see your eyes looking down at me
It's like a dream....could it really be

You're the one I always see
In the sky, when I climb the friendship tree

Copyright © Sabera Akhter 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 11 - Qur'ani

Qur’ani

Sing! Sing it like the springtime songbird
on a newly blossomed branch
Reviving, summoning, renewing sing-songing
Light beams pearls and coral rings of truths

Tell the fear ogre
Tell the ignorance vulture

Never never above it anything
Never never erases it anything
Never NEVER effaces it anything
Revealed by a Giving Allah
Most Gracious God, Most Merciful Master
Protected where no hand can transgress

Healer of hearts
Solace in sadness
Magnifier of morale
Link to Lord

Sing! Sing it like the springtime songbird
chest thrust out on a newly blossomed branch
Robed in white florets renewing its witness to new life.

Copyright © Mouna Ammar 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 10 - Crocodile Tears

Crocodile Tears

He cries,
His crocodile tears,
As he tries,
To wash away his fears,
Why do his DISinformed peers,
Act in THIS way?
Ami and Abu?
They don't know what to say.
--------------
My name's Mo, he says,
But PLEASE, don't ask me why,
I am NOT RE-SPON-SI-BLE For the ones that died,
Thanks to Mr. Fox and his cans of lie,
Don't nobody feel sorry for all my tears cried,

And how can you tell me to my face,
That I should go back to my place?
'Cuz my place of origin is where we be ,
This great land of lies, freedom, and hip-pock-ra-see.
---------------
Well hey howdy hey,
Lawd do I say,
Git back, you dirty A-rab,
I'ma pick you off, you durty scab!
Wha don' you slit yo' damn wrist,
You steeyoopid terrarist.
---------------
Still, he cries,
His crocodile tears,
Still he tries,
To wash away his fears,
Still he wonders why his disinformed peers,
Continue to act in ths way.
Still Ami and Abu,
Got nothin to say.

Ami and Abu.
Ami and Abu?
---------------
Baita, listen to me now an leeson to me true,
I hawe been through eweryting that you'we been through.
So hary up now and stop acting strange,
...And let's go get your wedding arranged.
--------------
Sis-tas and Brothers,
Mo-thas and fathers,
When will we stop crying our crocodile tears,
When will we finally start washing,
Our psy-cho-so-ma-tic fears?
When will we learn to inform all forms of dis-informed life- forms,
So that they may finally stop acting in this way,
There's just gotta be something that Ami and Abu
Can learn to say.

Copyright © Zaki Barzinji 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 9 - Life?

Life?

Life is a highway.
It's that or it's my way.
You stop, only when others are stoppin,
Everyone's waitin' to see your wheels a'poppin
You're always shoppin',
Carin' only about material wealth,
Damn your health,
Don't act in stealth,
Overload on carbo this and carbo that,
We're getting almost fat as the
Fat fad cars we drive,
Seldom strive,
To take a dive,
Into the unknown the unseen,
It's alla bout the sheen, DAWG,
Of my hair,
The kicks we wear,
Don't stop an' share,
I just don't care.
T.V.'s the the tires screaming ignorance is a kiss,
A kiss of bliss, just gimme a kiss, cuz
Love's a dead dove, a
Useless symbol covered over by the desert sand storms of time.
Time.
What's in is love for a day.
Baby whaddya say?
Temporary union's communion's just a Vegas drive through away.
These words have no boundr'y,
It's a rant of semi insanity,
On all humanity, cuz
Every experiment's got reactants and products,
The Devil wears Prada,
And now Newsweek says the Pope does too,
So I ask you,
Whaddoo I do?
Should I try fittin' in
By ob-sess-sin'
Along with the wanna be Britneys of the world?
By makin' myself hurl?
Plungin' down my IQ,
In exchange for not being strange on the cover of
GQ?

Copyright © Zaki Barzinji 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 8 - Walls

Walls

Walls are what I respect because they protect me in my
House. Yet even a
Mouse could slip past so fast and see everything about
Me, the roots of my
Tree, and begin to kill the kiss of bliss we call
ig-know-rance.

Walls are what call someone gay.
Or make Dubya say that I just may be a
Ter-ra-rist. So slit your wrist, just try to twist out of these Walls
That have been built up around you,
hey Stingy Jew! Don't act so blue!
Everyone just shut up and hear,
from the ones you're near
Move away!
Let someone else say
What they're all about
Cut the clout,
And finally tear out
these Walls.

Walls are what stand between me and you
and to get through
you gotta be that mouse,
slip into my house,
while my walls are asleep,
dig deep,
plant the seed,
grow outta your greed,
and take a stab
at pickin' the scab
of to-ler-ance.

Copyright © Zaki Barzinji 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 7 - To Heck Wi Dis Place!

To Heck Wi Dis Place

'Twas de night before Katrina, when all tru da state
Not a gas pump was pumpin', Not a store open late
All da plywood was hung, on de windows wit care,
Knowing dat a hurricane, Soon would be dere.

Da chilren were ready wit deir flashlight in hand
While rain bands from da hurricane covered over our lan
And Mom wit her Mag-lite, and me wit my cap
Has jus filled da battub for flushing our crap..

When out on de lawn, there arose such a clatter
I sprang from da closet to see what was de matter
The trees on da terrace, and de neighbor's roof torn,
We feared we'd be dyin' in dis terrible storm.

Wit a little wind gus, so lively and quick,
I membered quite clearly our walls was not brick
More rapid than Eagles, her courses they changed!
And she whistled and wafted and surged all the same.

Off shingles! Off sidings! Off rooftops! Off power!
Down trees! Down fences! Down trailers! Down towers!
On da street of New Orleans, she continued to maul,
Screaming Blow away! Blow away! Blow away all!

As da wind ripped and tossed da debris tru de sky,
I peeked out the shutters at the cars floatin' by.
So go to the attic my family did do,
With a portable radio and some batteries too.

And den in a twinkling, I heard on da set,
The end was not coming for a few hours yet!
As I calmed down da kids and was turning around
Tru de window it came with a huge crashing sound

A tree branch it was all covered in soot
De wind blew it smack-dab on top of my foot!
A bundle of twigs now lay in a stack
And my Livin' Room looked like it was under attack.

De wind how it howled, de storm very scary,
Myself and my family were all too unwary.
Da dangers of hurricanes are serious ya know,
Dey are taken for granted as Betsy did show.

Wit da winds dying down and da danger beneath,
I noticed my tool shed was missing its sheath
So I grabbed my last tarp, and nailed it on down,
Den I got in my car and drove into town.

Da traffic was awful and stores had no ice,
My 5-gallon cooler would have to suffice
Generators was scarce, not one left in town,
Dere was trees on the roads and power lines down.

FEMA was ready wit people to work,
Electrical companies came in from New York.
I sprang to da car, and gave my family a whistle,
Den away we all went like a Tomahawk missile!

You could hear us exclaim as we drove out of sight,
"The heck wit dis place, Texas seem just right!"

Copyright © UK Sister in KSA 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY No. 6 - Fajr

Fajr

Satan whispered in my ear today as he often does,
he told me "just stay in bed and let the alarm clock buzz,
the covers are warm while the air is cold."
But I refused and stood up bold.
As I walked toward the bathroom with my eyes squinting,
He said "Go back to bed, who care's for prayers and repenting?"
Bismillah, in the name of Allah I turn the water on,
Making wadu, I think of the reward of praying Fajr before dawn.
Knot number two is now untied,
Satan is losing his strength and pride,
he is whispering again with his last attempt,
"I will see you in my hell, you will not be exempt.
You have sinned and your prayers will not save you.
For, your good deeds are far too few."
I interrupted him, lovingly reciting, Bismillah akrakman naraheem,
In the name of Allah the most gracious, most merciful, most supreme
Al Fatiha, a surah, Ruk'u and then Qauma, Sudjood to show full
submission,
Rise and thank, Sudjood again and do over with no omission,
sitting on my ankles to recite At-tashahhud with a humble and open soul,
With tears in my eyes I am submitting fully to Allah's control.
Back on my ankles to ask Allah for blessings on his Prophet and on us,
As Salaam 'alaikum wa rahmatulaah to my right
then left, ahhh success.
Three knots now untied,
Inshallah, from Jannah I will not be denied.

Copyright © 2006 Heather El Khiyari. All rights reserved.

ENTRY NO. 5 - The Price of a Hug

The Price of a Hug

I don't know if you realize it or not,
but, as we have discussed previously,
the connection between us,
is rooted in what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
put in our hearts,
and in contact.

Subsequent to my previous
attempts to communicate
with you on this subject,
I have noticed a pattern.

Every other week
I am banished
from your inner circle.

Literally.

Every other week.

I don't know if you realize it or not,
but this creates a pain
that goes to the inner core of my being.

And it is so unnecessary.

The key to peace,
harmony and happiness between us,
was, is, and will always be

contact.

You have so often said
that I am a part of you.
Can you tell me then,
that you do not feel a loss
for each day that passes
wherein you find yourself
purposefully stopping short
of reaching out to me?

How do you think
this makes me feel?

I have adapted myself to many things,
but the thing that I find no solace for
is the loss of your touch.

Please tell me,
What is the price of a hug?
Is it really something you cannot afford?

I do my best to stay out of your way
when you are working on something;
I do my best to not make myself
an annoyance to you.

I wait patiently for you -
having proven repeatedly
that all you have to do is call for
...or reach out to me...
...and I am there...
So imagine my confusion and frustration
the pain that seers through my heart
when you leave me for days on end
without a single touch.

Wallahi you don't even know
the tears I have cried
longing for and missing you.

If I am being punished,
at least tell me what for
...I can't fix what I don't know...

Tonight you suddenly cared
if we prayed or ate together
wallahi...that made me feel
like a battery operated toy
that can be turned on
and off again at whim.

It's not like that
...I am hurting inside...
and I have silently suffered
without any explanation as to why
you cannot even find yourself
...able to touch me.

I told you how I had missed you
and how I had been crying,
sentiments that seem to have fallen
on deaf ears
...or so it has seemed...
because here I quietly sit...
...alone with my shattered heart...
asking myself,

"What is the price of a hug?"

Copyright © Butterfly. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 4 - Thank You Sincerely

Thank You Sincerely

It's hard to believe it's time to go
We know this day would eventually come
But had no idea of its overwhelming fear
Say goodbye to a friend that I hold dear to my heart

As I sat here through my tears
I looked back on all of those years
All the things we'd both been through
All the times that we'd shared
Stucked together through sunshine and shadows
We all lived happily ever after

You were a great father, anyone could ever imagine
A friend like you is hard to find
We didn't always say what we felt
The words were not easy to find
But love speaks a common language
When people have ties that bind

Thanks for the start to the lives that we'd had
Thanks for the nights that you went without rest
So many hours that you worked to provide
Every best thing a daughter can ever get
All the attention and all of the care
All the forgiveness and all of the pride

Thanks for being there for me
Each and every day
Through good times and bad times
Thanks for the examples you set every day
Teaching with actions, those lessons hold tight
If you weren't perfect, you still passed the test

Thank you for love not required to be earned
Not ever fading as time moved along
And you still cared as your golden time nears
Never a doubt I could still count on you
Holding my hands, holding back all the fears
Pointing out faults but then calling out to cheer

Thank you sincerely for all of those years
They'll linger in my heart
As if we never apart

Next day you'll be so very far away
But next to me
Is how you'll always stay

One day when we meet again
May it will be full of blessings in the rain
Yet for now all that I can say
Is to Allah for you I'll pray

***
special words for a special father, my father

Copyright © Ari A. Sukarno 2006. All Rights Reserved.

ENTRY NO. 3 - I Am Woman

I Am Woman

I don't need your remorse or sympathy
I don't have any regret or care on
How society views me.

I am no longer a statistic
A toy for men to play with
I know what I am worth
I am beautiful just the way God made me

I am a woman who is precious
Not something to be fixed, sliced,
Cut up and made to entice
Since when does beauty only matter?
I was raised and taught that
Your mind is what flatters.

I am sick… I am tired…
Women are being abused all around
I feel like I'm gonna drown!
Set me free from this despair!
Oh my God I swear!
Free the people's errs
Why can't they understand women?

We are valuable precious beings
We deserve to be treasured, appreciated
And loved to a degree that lifts us
From all the afflictions that we see!

Then maybe somehow we can agree
That I am a woman and I have dignity!

Copyright © Muslima 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Image: Charles Brooks

ENTRY NO. 2 - There will be an end to it yet...

There will be an end to it yet

Frozen, for the world to see,
Lost in time, everyone living except me,
Memories fading, forgetting all,
The air is compressed and the room is small.

Liberated, that, I am not,
Able to live while burning hot,
Eyes everywhere, watching my every move,
Imperfection they are trying to prove.

Expecting more then they will get,
More pressure enforced until my mind will split,
Confused of it all, trapped in there taunts,
Each one not knowing what the other one wants.

Trapped am I for them to devour,
I am weak while they consume my power,
I am torn down in all this frustration,
But thru it all, God is my Salvation.

When I became Muslim I expected to be judged and ridiculed by non Muslims but I did not expect to be judged and ridiculed by Muslims. When will sister and brother hood begin and the finger pointing end? We as Muslim’s should be happy to see and know of other converts not point fingers at there imperfections and expect them to be the best Muslim ever after they have just know about Islam for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year or many years. Allah revealed Quran over the course of many years and gave the people time to accept Islam and time to change. If Allah can give people time, why can’t we as Muslim’s give people time and keep our judgments on our selves? If we could keep our attention and finger pointing directed at ourselves then we as Muslims could grow and with Allah’s mercy achieve Jenna.

Copyright © 2006 Heather El Khiyari. All rights reserved.

ENTRY NO. 1 - Hurricanes 2005

Hurricanes 2005

Have you heard of Rita
Ivan, Floyd, Wilma and Katrina?
Do you think I am talking of
neighbors and acquaintances, or folks
who were helpful or made me smile
or my husband’s colleagues for a while?
Or maybe a doctor’s assistant or receptionist
Who sounds so dry and rude?

I wish they were one of them
And be easy on one and all.
They are bigger than monsters BIG
And do not have a face of own,
Except a body all white
And an eye in the middle,
We wouldn’t know how they looked,
if not for the satellite,
which sends us pictures from above.
Each looks flat and tight
With energies packed with might.
To knock bridges, trees and trucks
With just one mighty fall.
It falls like walls of concrete
With lots of water
and wind to do the rest
To make sure nothing is left
Of man, trees, buildings and pets.

Pulls water from the seas
Inviting it to the land.
Which so willingly comes
In great heights and force.

All this is one small creation of Allah the GREATEST,
He sends every now and then
To put to test man’s strength and faith
While leaving some dead some injured
And the rest suffering and homeless.

I pray to Allah the Great
To make us none of the said
At the hands of hurricanes,
Earthquakes, fire and protect
Our families, homes and faith.

Copyright © Muslima 2006. All Rights Reserved.