The Poetteer

The Garden Through the window I see the morning dew  I feel your sunlight  the wind chimes and birds chirp  buds fill the branches  The morning spring light  nourishes the blossoming -  flowers and my soul  The breeze brings  the first fragrance  of freshly bloomed flowers  bringing vibrant colors to the earth  watching clouds float and shape-shift  perfect for bare feet and day dreams  I sit in silence, unmoved  two little birds were chirping loudly  playing in our garden  chirping to their friends  I hear their wings flutter and dance in the bird bath  the flowers you water pray for you  the birds you feed pray for you. Behind the Poem The poem wasn’t written in one sitting. It started as three haikus in response to some April prompts . In June I wrote a garden poem. I noticed one stanza had the same line as one of the haikus: " Enjoy the little joys  the breeze brings wind chimes and ...

Gold Gift Every time I look down at my wrists and see the bracelets I see their hands, I am reminded of both women who wore it before me I hope to embody their strength. Behind the Poem This poem is from Her Durian. I wrote it after my mom gave me her bracelet that she had gotten from her mother. In the moment it felt casual. She slipped on my wrist to give me some arm candy before our trip to Malaysia. My own grandmother didn't recognize it yet thought it was beautiful. This memory will always be attached to the bracelet and poem. Signed paperbacks are now available for purchase. 

Hello Poetteers, Adapt to Culture Culture of the place matters  work on understanding  and adapting to the social setting  I wear a bright caftan in Malaysia  but in America I’ll look out of place. Cultural Traits Malay's quiet patience Arab's loud intensity I need space to be both two cultures fighting in my heart after a month of keeping quiet I feel the urge  to let out the louder side of me.  Blurb Her Durian is about Islaih’s travels to Malaysia and her memories with family. These poems will make your mouth water with the different foods and dessert. It covers the topic of growing up in a multicultural home and experiences as a Muslim American. Signed copies of Her Durian are available. Message me if you’re interested in purchasing a copy. stay inspired, Fida 

Hello Poetteers, It is Her Olives 6th book anniversary! We Are Palestine We are zataar and zaytoon, land of the almonds and apricots, figs and oranges, watermelon and cheese, tasting its sweetness, enjoying mint tea on the balcony, connected to the roots of Palestine. I’ve created an anniversary gift that includes extra poems, prompts and a glossary. When you purchase Her Olives , this month only, message me on instagram with your receipt and I’ll send you the anniversary gift. Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Pick yourself up Learn to forgive yourself for being hard on yourself learn to take it easy and give yourself grace. Allow yourself time to heal. With healing comes strength. No one else can heal you. For more self love poetry check out my book, Blossoming Heart . Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Remember Their Faces They once gathered around me  as I told a story as a toddler  it feels like deja vu  as they gather around me  wanting to read the stories I've written  my face is flushed red  but I will always remember their faces  Salaam After Prayer Across the world we all show up for God together  listening to his words  praying to ease our hearts. Blurb Her Durian is about Islaih’s travels to Malaysia and her memories with family. These poems will make your mouth water with the different foods and dessert. It covers the topic of growing up in a multicultural home and experiences as a Muslim American. Smashwords | Amazon Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Nourished My soul most nourished when I'm awake with  myself at the bookstore hanging out with my mom hearing from my friends better when I see them My soul most nourished when I pray and meditate with yoga when I finally find a moment to write in my journal When I learn about my faith learn to love. Behind the Poem I wrote this poem back in Dec 2013 for a something called Reverb13. The poem is now published in my book, Blossoming Heart . Leave a comment:  When do you feel most nourished? Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Today's poem is about determination. Enjoy! Determination is the drive through obstacles to accomplish our goals and reach our dreams Our dreams are known, when we've spent time with ourselves, the truth is what we need We learn our needs are kept alive by determination and we let it lead us through life. by Fida islaih and Sahira Javaid Check out Sahira's latest poetry book , Crack of Dawn.  Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers,  I hope you enjoy today's poem.  Dancing For Joy Dancing with my friends, I discover my body: I'm twirling under the lights, electricity fuelled limbs I watch their hips sway arms pumping the air - following along I am not as smooth, but my smile fills the room, hits the roof, bounces off the ceiling I was afraid of showing skin my body always aches to feel whole but I don’t feel it tonight it’s all about seeing the joy in our eyes: When I dance I am transcendent, And in my laughter, I find self-love. By Fida Islaih and Isabelle Kenyon Isabelle has a poetry book published called 'This is not a Spectacle'. Stay inspired, Fida 

Hello Poetteers, This poem was inspired after listening to Pink's "What About Us?" Enjoy! I gave you a chance I gave you my love, my trust but you said so many things so many things that turned out to be lies I'm not taking it anymore I'm ready to face this world without you and I'm okay with that I have all the power in my heart to change it all I don't have to be afraid. By Fida Islaih and Jennifer Rapp Check out Jen's debut poetry book, Ink Stained Hands . Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, I feel like I've been slacking on the blog and decided on a project to bring the blog back to life. A little while ago I got to collaborate with Luna on a poem. Enjoy! Stars All bruised up I look up at the stars the sky is the same color purple and black I don't let the bruise bring me down the way the purple gives into the night, making one feel closer with the stars and the universe I am a star among stars. By Fida Islaih and Luna Margo Valentine You can find Luna sharing original pieces of soft girl poetry over on twitter . Stay inspired, Fida

What Is In A Name Your name is the love your parents have for you it is something you give life to be as strong as your name and live it up Your name has many meanings of what it is in another language it connects you to your homeland It gives others an image that touches their heart it gives you a love bigger than you Your name holds your heritage and culture it holds your heart it holds you. Stay inspired, Fida

Hello Poetteers, Today's poetry challenge is the letter G. You can find the whole challenge in the April Poetry Bundle . Word Prompt Give Questions How do you give yourself to the world?  How are you given your friends? What do your friends give you? How do you show gratitude?  Poetry Form Gogyohka was a form developed by Enta Kusakabe in Japan and translates literally to “five-line poem.” An off-shoot of the tanka form, the gogyohka has very simple rules: The poem is comprised of five lines with one phrase per line. ( source ). Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation. Example I show my heart to the world show...

Hello Poetteers, Welcome to the first day of the A to Z Poetry challenge. I won't be blogging every day. You can find all the challenges in the April Poetry Bundle . Today's challenge is the letter A. Word Prompt Ablaze Questions What sparked a fire in you? How are you fierce? What strong emotions are you feeling? What bright colors describe those emotions? Poetry Form Acrostic Share the poems on Instagram using #dailypoetrygram and tagging me @poetfida. This is all optional. These questions are here to guide you in writing your poem. You don’t have to answer all the questions or use all your responses in the poem. Pick your favorite responses to be in the poem and rearrange them until you’re satisfied. These word prompts are up to your creativity and interpretation. Example Burning Fiercely  I'm always asked about my faith and culture of why I fast and wear the headscarf blue with frustration and red with anger  instead of letting...

Hello Poetteers, After a #PoetteerChat about food and poetry, I had the pleasure to collaborate on a poem with Charlotte Hamrick . The Well Worked Globe Bread is a part of every meal and Monday mornings were for bread-making. My five-year-old self would sit at the big, worn kitchen table and watch Grandma's hands as they expertly kneaded and rolled the dough, grabbing the edge, folding it to the center, then pushing it down with the heels of her palms, gradually turning the pale round disc until all edges met in the middle, over and over, her fingers flexing, arms relentlessly churning like waves on a shore. I'd watch as she chatted and sometimes sang, a merry-go-round of domesticity, a goddess of the kitchen, until time to rest the well-worked globe in a bowl in the corner. Later, the whole house was filled with the smell of freshly baked bread we sat around the dining room table I tore off a piece of pita to dip in hummus as we waited for ...

Hello Poetteers, As people read HER OLIVES I realized I should have added a glossary. Here are two new poems to help you better understand the other poems. Olives in Arabic is zaytoon Olives are this dark green color of brownish green of nature and it's fruit also used as an oil Olives are bitter but balances a meal Olives are from the Mediterranean and all the countries that border it it's the skin tone of people from that area. Olives are a symbol of peace. Za'atar is thyme a plant connected to the roots of Palestine Za'atar is a mixture of herbs to enjoy on bread baked similarly to pizza or dipped with olive oil or a seasoning for hummus. Love, Fida  I realized Her Olives should have a glossary, download it here . 

Hello Poetteers, Today is the 3rd book anniversary of my poetry book, Her Olives ! With that, I give you a new poem. Traditional Dress She is given a gift of a dress and thought of it only as that loving the design on the cloth not knowing the depth of the embroidery  but she walks in tall and graceful her dress flows from her broad shoulders to her feet in black cloth the cloth of the chest and arms embroidered with colored threads called tatreez she comes to find each design hand stitched the variation in tatreez holds different symbols there is also variations of the traditional dress from different parts of Palestine She barely scratched the surface of knowing the stories behind the designs all with stories and history of Palestine. stay inspired, Fida I realized Her Olives should have a glossary, you can find it here.  

Hello Poetteers, I ended and started the year well with reading. I've been enjoying my poetry finds. I'm about to read: An Open Suitcase & New Blue Tears by J.R. Rogue La Douleur Exquise by J.R. Rogue I'm currently reading: A Brilliant Madness Robert M. Drake Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur I recently finished reading (My poetry reads of 2016): Rest in the Mourning by R.H. Sin Watercolor Words by Topher Kearby Stay With Me Awhile by Loren Kleinman Mad Woman by Kat Savage Lullabies by Lang Leav Today Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder What poetry books have you read/currently reading/will read?

Hello Poetteers,  This past week I've been working on a collaborative piece. Here is the result of that collaboration.  Flickering Light Pain is my light getting tired with the anticipation a heaviness settles into my heart Pain is the loss of never seeing the good again you feel helpless like getting the news of death and not knowing what to say to yourself or others you don’t want to hear anything you stare into nothingness and wonder if it will get better accepting the pain, you can move forward from deep sorrow to the process of healing, healing is the reversal of a decomposed heart a radiant light replacing the darkness within a soothing ointment to one’s soul it gives hope to endure the circumstances, strength for the journey, courage to be bold, to comfort others who are afflicted but most all to know you are not alone. by Fida Islaih & Rebeca Perez Check out more poetry by Rebeca at Blend My Love .

Hello Poetteers, I have a new poem for you! This month is coming to a close. I've been attempting to participate in OctPoWriMo but I didn't do well as the poem below is the one poem I wrote. Weary Hope She was drained of hope yet she was forced to trust everyone talks about prayer she gives it a try day by day there is a growing feeling of hope and genuine trust. Have you been participating in OctPoWriMo? Do you have a poem that needs editing help? Message me and we can work together to bring out the best in your poem.  stay inspired,  Fida