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Noor Aldayeh (They/She)
Crowded town square
Amos laugh loudly
in tiny plastic chairs
Palestinian flags posted
every few steps
Two wrinkled hands
Atop a bedazzled,
Rainbow Quran
Jewelry glistens
Along the walls of the
Ancient, restored Souk
The elder,
Known for their bright smile
Lazes atop the shelves of
Their overflowing library
A boy
Riding a bicycle
Pedals into the driveway of
His great-great-great grandmother
Calligraphy pens
Soaked in
Rich, colorful ink
Dancing on pages
Of silk, papyrus
Everything handmade
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Impossible not to spot
The art,
Nestled in every corner
Reaching out to be
Seen
The Sea of Galilee,
Mediterranean,
Dead & Red
Glisten atop smooth rocks
Three elders,
Sit between sand and water,
A tray of tea & salted nuts
Resting between them
A shutter flash then,
Splash
An animal sanctuary,
An orange tree, in bloom
Stray cats eating food
which has been left out for them
Concert scenes,
In ancient venues
Tattooed hands flying
Beside leather niqabs
The laughs of the
Kids in every neighborhood
Echo, reverberate, and
Enlighten the passersby
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The best hummus and
The best Kunafa and the
Best Zaytoun and
The Best
Everything!
Poetry nights at
24-hour Coffee Spots
Sipping never-ending
Karak on tap
The Jiddo still works
At the Family bakery
And scolds the children
He sneaks Ma’amool
Yasmine and
Roses and
Apples and
Poppies and
More to stop and pick
Dinner shared on the floor
With gritty blur and
Arms that cross into interconnected
Webs
Teta’s couch featuring
Ancestral embroidery and
A butter cookie tin
Full of sewing materials
A shared nightstand;
Home,
Land,
Signs and
Wildlife and
Sanctuaries
Kites flying outside
Car windows,
Young folks in colorful
Thobes and abayas and clothes
Parkour parks and
Theaters, a short walk then
Fresh juice from the corner stand
Birds and
Horses and
Doves
A distant relative’s cookbook
Next to her great aunt’s fishhook
This leather notebook
Bound by lover’s hands
Awaits its next journey
Shot on film & digital
Next edition,
TBA
ليافا
خلقت بلا ظلم
وما الغصة
و حبيبي بين ثكنات الياسمين
يرتوي الشعر من انبياء عائلتي
يبوح العشق و العزة
و ما الذلة
وكياني يرقى
بين معاجم الفقهاء يروى
و في خيال الشباب يشتهى
و ما الفرقة
ورقصي يعترض المآرة
في أساطير الفن يحكي
يترنح بين لسان الشعراء
وما الجنة
و اليوم يقبّل الليل في جرءة
والحب يعلوا صوت جسدي
حين يهمس حبيب العمر ابقى
وما الموت
إذا شئت قدري
و دفنت بجوار أحبائي
خلدت
Photos courtesy of Mama Ganuush