 | |
| Nativity
in Bethlehem 2023 - Baby Jesus in the rubble, a symbol of hope
reflecting the current reality of the Israeli made genocide in Gaza
right now. Pastor
Munther Isaac & Bethlehem's Evangelical Lutheran Church |
Christ was a Palestinian ... a small collection Poems by Anne Selden Annab in Growing Gardens for Palestine
Religious Fact ...
Religious Fact
Jewish- Christian- Muslim ALL
of the book ALL Abraham's
heirs... ALL of faith
somewhere on our
family tree.
A branch with branches
and twigs and seasons
bringing forth new leaves.
One branch on one tree
in a large orchard of life.
Some where some one
long long ago choose
to believe, to have faith
and to name that faith.
That human being
told true stories to
others. And others
helped spread the word.
Minds and hearts opened
communities grew
and yet
so did divisiveness as we are all
only human,
with many loving children
teaching each in turn
phrases to say
and habits to have
shaping human history.
Jewish- Christian- Muslim ALL
of an elaborate world where one by one,
each in our own exclusive way,
we are empowered to decide
who and what to notice
& who and what
to forget.
poem
copyright ©2014 Anne Selden Annab
Preserved Online For All To See
 |
| “My Christian grandmother and my Muslim grandmother in Palestine” - Shared by a Palestinian man on Facebook |
A Christmas poem... Star Street Bethlehem Palestine 2014
Star Street Bethlehem Palestine 2014
Half a world away
light flickers...
Stars strung house
to house, home to home
a narrow alley
in an ancient place
and a modern car
gliding... guiding
good thoughts...
Strand after strand
string after string
row by row over head
line by line
electric stars shine
illuminating
a golden glow
a golden path
a golden trance
as we go...
Wordless wonder
here and there
sharing a ride,
a marveling minute
(& twenty three seconds)
of real life and light
in Bethlehem
today... tonight...
think what you want
and I will too
as half a world away
Christmas returns renewed
in open hearts and curious,
creative minds
connecting.
poem
copyright ©2014 Anne Selden Annab
Trust... A poem for peace in Growing Gardens for Palestine
 |
| Palestine photo credit ATFP news roundup |
You are part
of continuum
alongside
and into
others.
Good is in our
collective quest
to live enlightened
To be measured
by our best and reminded
by our worst to be better.
To be the gold
of Golden Rule.
To spark joy
or comfort
or calm
or thought,
each in turn
as we turn
to others
bringing out
honor
decency
dignity
justice
peace
knowing
nurturing
continuum.
poem copyright ©2014 Anne Selden Annab
Ibrahim's Estate .... a poem by Anne Selden Annab
& Peace Day
Ibrahim's Estate
Recognizing rights
basic human rights
the People of the Book-
the Christians and Muslims and Jews
and the People of Outside the Box
looked... They
looked to homelands
looked to citizenship
looked to fair and just laws
to compassion
and empathy
and the Golden Rule...
looked for ways
to make peace
and diplomacy
a daily practice.
Some went astray.
Some waged war
instead of waging peace.
Some grew ugly thoughts
instead of gardens with flowers
to delight the soul and fruit to feed
the hungry.
Some grew selfish and paranoid.
Some grew angry and cruel
Some grew violent.
Bigots & bullies tried to own the story-
to tell it in ways to diminish
and alienate "others"...
to tell it in ways
to spark rage
and arguments...
But the People of the Book-
the Christians and Muslims and Jews
and the People of Outside the Box
taught their children to read
and to think... to stop look and listen...
and to invest wisely
so that country by country
community by community
we all might be free
as one epic nation
free to flourish
enjoying
Ibrahim's Estate...
This then is the nation
the promised land-
the real estate
agents of Good
keep safe for all to inherit...
No border, no book, no line, no letter
no brick or stone can contain it. No passport
can define it. No one sect
can own it... it is ours
in the largest sense
It is ours for all
eternity.
poem
copyright ©2013 Anne Selden Annab
Little Golden Bell...
Tiny 2,000-year-old golden bell found in Jerusalem: A
tiny golden bell which was lost in Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago
during the Second Temple period has been found among ruins near the Old
City, Israel's Antiquities Authority has saidLittle Golden Bell
Little golden bell
lost
for 2000 years-
a precious treasure
and token
of times gone by
What stories did you hear
when you were first created
bought and sold
and then later- through the ages
as you hid in Palestine?
What songs and hymns stirred
your heart to beat
underground
Did footsteps echo
in your ear
coming and going
Shall we argue now
as to your religion
and rightful heirs...
Fondly remembering the freedom
and the beauty found
in my own American childhood
(and the silly seriousness of children)
I like to think
you belonged to a young girl
A girl with joy in her heart
and a brilliant mind...
even brighter than your gold polished
A girl able to balance on a beam
A girl whose own story
we will never know
She is free to simply be
no ID card- no passport
no prison- no politics
no accusations
no religion
no names
Just life
being lived
little golden bell
perhaps she meant
to drop you.
poem
copyright ©2011 Anne Selden Annab
Freedom to me is ... (a poem)
Freedom to me isthe ability to err
and apologize...
Freedom to me is the right
to change my mind-
change my hairstyle
change my clothes
change my mood
change my purse
the right to explore ideas
and formulate my own
and the right to change my mind
and maybe yours...
The Right To Respect
the Right To Return
& The Golden Rule...
Freedom to me is
the right to admire beauty
and invest in dignity
Freedom to me is
the awareness
of change
and changing awareness
Freedom to me is
finding hope
no matter what or where...
Freedom to me is to honor
my own heritage
and hearth
My family- and yours
our marriage
all marriage...
and the intriguing history
of humankind.
poem & picture copyright ©2010 Anne Selden Annab
Christ was a Palestinian
And unto usa new era is born
The Phoenix
rising from the flames
of "Israel"
In seeing the Israeli made myths
and violence now
as the information age explodes
We Know
We know that what was remembered then
was for power- not for truth
We know that Israel usurped land and rights- and even the story itself
Now and then
We know that Israeli crimes
are all the more wrong as they claim
to be for God
We know
Now and then
We know that the only known political fact
is simply that the prophet and savior
Christ
was a Palestinian...
And we know that he deployed
Parables to free the people
from tyranny
of every type
Parables
to compel humankind to be both human
and kind
Parables
not guns
A dialog
not guns
Life
not death
We know that Christ is resurrection...
and we know that Palestine was then- and will be again
somehow
We know
and this faith
shall light our way
no matter what
This faith
will transcend the hate mongering
and sorrow and suffering...
This faith
will heal
the many wounds
made by Israel
and the many mistakes
made by all people
trying to find peace
in a troubled world
This faith will rebuild Palestine
one day
This faith will free the people
one by one
to transcend the many tyrannies
of our time
For Christ really was- is and always will be
a Palestinian....
Rivers of paint...
Rivers of paint
run through my blood
Rivers of unequivocal color
up out of the mud
huts to palaces
every home
where ever tint can roam
every floor
every wall
every tile
every hall
every costume
every dance
every embroidery
every glance
huts to palaces
every home
every garden
every wood
every field
every could
huts to palaces
every home
where ever ever ever
an I might roam
...Universal Echo
Every time
you unlock any door
any where
any one
you are Al-Awda
Any time
you fit a key
into any ignition
of any vehicle
you are Al-Awda
Any time
you write a poem
(or a grocery list)
you are Al-Awda
as the ink shapes
in every language
spell out
what was
is and always will be
Al-Awda
When you read a book
When you fall in love
When you buy a ring
When you leave home
When you return
all Al-Awda
Every time
you flick a switch
turn on a light
Al-Awda
Every time
you close your eyes
and dream
Al-Awda
Every pillow you fluff
every penny you drop
every street you stroll
every garden
every step
even every stumble
All Al-Awda
And now knowing Al-Awda
know that all roads now
lead home
....to Palestine
No comments:
Post a Comment