by Maryam Chahine
This small poem is dedicated to Portland, Oregon. Although I was born in the Midwest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I lived most of my life in Oregon and I consider it my hometown and birthplace.
Portland
people everyday
organize each other’s Roses
releasing Hoods in downpours
tipping into Lakes of Craters as they
lick Tillamook
and swim annually to Astoria
nesting in Columbia Gorges as they watch
dancing sails in the Willamette.
Tags: Astoria, Columbia Gorge, Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, Oregon, Portland, Portland Rose Garden, roses, sails, Tillamook ice cream, Willamette
-- William Shakespeare
by Maryam Chahine
SONG FOR THE MUSIC IN THE GAZA GHETTO: VARIATIONS OF OSHEROW
by Maryam Chahine
Pity the eyes that are told not to cry.
Pity the voices that are told to be silent.
Pity the child whom the world sanctions to die.
Pity the survivors who turn to violence.
Pity their freedom choked behind walls.
Pity their rights locked behind bars.
Pity the genocide hidden in museum halls.
Pity the world's silence driving by like cars.
Pity the olive trees that press through slaughter.
Pity the breaths kidnapped from shores.
Pity the tears that become ocean waters.
Pity the living, dead in an unending war.
A Drowning of Six Feet was published in the Spring of 2011 issue of A Hudson View. The beginnings of the poem came quite easily to me, but it took me a long time to finally complete this piece. A Drowning of Six Feet It was a drowning of six feet giant black birds […]
Song for the Music in the Gaza Ghetto was just recently published in the summer 2011 issue of Free Verse. It is a publication I read quite often and admire very much. I’ve discovered many valuable poets through this literary journal. It just so happened that Sherman Alexie’s work appeared in the same issue as […]
The two poems include A Terrorist Family and Not to Steal the Breath of Another which appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of Damazine. I wish this publication the best of success as it tries to bring literature relating to the Muslim world to the public. This was my very first paid work Thanks […]
The two poems include Exit of Zeekoff and I Erase into the Ocean which were published in Ghoti Magazine in 2009 if I’m correct on the year. Ghoti closed down recently; I was quite sad to see it go. I received some very good feedback from the editor. Many literary magazines don’t make it for […]
The three poems include Advice to a Diminishing Girl, An Unforeseen Meeting, and Rainstorms that Closed My Eyes which were published in Sacramento Poetry, Art and Music in 2008. Advice to a Diminishing Girl Diminishing girl, do not seek confirmation: in crescent brows, rogue lips, cursory eyes. Do not despise your own (un) cluttered self. […]
LOVE
By Sarah Flower Adams
O Love! thou makest all things even
In earth or heaven;
Finding thy way through prison-bars
Up to the stars;
Or, true to the Almighty plan,
That out of dust created man,
Thou lookest in a grave,--to see
Thine immortality!
Makes me want to visit oregon.
Of course I’m biased, but I highly recommend Oregon : )
Birthplace … I like how you distinguish your where you were actually born with what you consider your home and birthplace. Oregon must be beautiful and I hope to visit someday.
It is indeed! There is something special about Oregon that my poem can only capture in a small way. I hope you get a chance to visit it one day.