We passed by the home of the beloved
but the enemy’s laws and wall turned us away
I said to myself, “Maybe, that is a blessing”
What will you see in Jerusalem when you visit?
You will see all that you can’t stand
when her houses become visible from all sides
When meeting her beloved, not every soul rejoices
Nor does every absence harm
If they are delighted when meeting before departure
such joy cannot remain kindled
For once your eyes have seen Jerusalem
You will only see her, wherever you look.
-Tamim Bargouthi

*************

‎مَرَرْنا عَلــى دارِ الحبيب فرَدَّنا
‎عَنِ الدارِ قانونُ الأعادي وسورُهافَقُلْتُ لنفســي رُبما هِيَ نِعْمَةٌ
‎فماذا تَرَى في القدسِ حينَ تَزُورُهاتَرَى كُلَّ ما لا تستطيعُ احتِمالَهُ
‎إذا ما بَدَتْ من جَانِبِ الدَّرْبِ دورُها
‎وما كلُّ نفسٍ حينَ تَلْقَى حَبِيبَها تُـسَرُّ
‎ولا كُلُّ الغـِيابِ يُضِيرُهافإن سـرَّها قبلَ الفِراقِ لِقاؤُه
‎فليسَ بمأمـونٍ عليها سـرُورُهامتى تُبْصِرِ القدسَ العتيقةَ مَرَّةً
‎فسوفَ تراها العَيْنُ حَيْثُ تُدِيرُها
- تميم البرغوثي

Photograph taken by Yousef Albina in the 1920s -30s, courtesy of the Palestinian Museum Digital Archive (palarchive.org)

Have a peaceful & blessed Easter. A time that reminds us to notice all the tiny resurrections & ascensions that surround us.

(A blooming shamrock plant & this gorgeous poem by Pádraig Ó Tuama)

A tangible action you can take today: email Congress & flood their inboxes before they return from recess.

1. https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/tell-congress-demand-biden-reinstate-unrwa-funding/

2.
https://act.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/a/no-more-weapons-israel-c2e

#Gaza #Palestine

Please give what you can as the situation in Sudan only continues to worsen:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-us-escape-the-war-at-sudan?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=whatsapp

No words. Utterly, utterly sickening.

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/handcuffed-and-executed-30-bodies-found-in-northern-gaza-school-video/

Unfathomable, unthinkable, and unforgivable.

https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2024/israel-war-on-gaza-10000-children-killed/?utm_source=www.aljazeera.com&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=ucms

Take 30 seconds to email your members of Congress to enforce humanitarian laws:

https://palestine.salsalabs.org/noweaponsosraeljan22/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b67381f6-3346-438a-86a2-8417a4d76c40

"In the face of the horror and pain the children of Gaza are experiencing, the cry for justice is not a mere plea, it is a global call to humanity, to its collective conscience, if it still exists.

This comes at a time, when the powers that be, led by America, openly endorse this genocide and stand in the way of putting an end to it. They are making sure that more children will be orphaned, starved, made homeless, bombarded day and night, and denied access to healthcare, education, and parental love and care."

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/26/gazas-orphans-pain-without-borders

Grianstad an Gheimhridh / The Winter Solstice

[ Blessings to all ]