FRUITFUL TRAGEDIES by Syeda Alina Zahra

his poem is about the change love brings; how getting your heart broken is the most fruitful pain. When a heart breaks, it releases light, just like skies break and clouds scatter to let rays through, allowing the sun to shine after all. How a broken heart can become one’s greatest power, bringing one closer to The Lord:

Fruitful Tragedies

If you hadn't forsaken me
I wouldn’t have won myself.

Mufti Menk says:

Any tragedy that brings us closer to Allah is a blessing.
This means that you're a blessing.
Well, more like you 'were' a blessing.

All the nights I cried and complained to Allah,
All the days I lay on the prayer mat and screamed 'Why?'

All the times I ran out of breath inquiring from holy people.
I had no right to ask from Him, but I kept asking,

as if it was His responsibility to respond.

Then I realized that whatever situation I'm in

is because of my own psyche, my ego, my own wishful thinking.
Allah had nothing to do with it.
Yet, He still kept being generous toward me regardless.
He didn't have to. But He did.
Because of His Virtue—Of Being The Lord.

I begged Him to bless me with you.
I begged Allah during Tahajuds to please let me have you.
At least have the mercy of granting you to me.

Or be so convinced by my constant prayers,

Or maybe get tired of my stubbornness and just,

Just let me have you.

Why didn't He? He could have. But He chose not to. Why?
Now I know why:

So that I may win myself.
Though there are many stones that remain unturned,

I have become what I never thought I would,
what I always dreamed of, but never ever imagined would become a reality.

As Allama Iqbal says:

"To find Iqbal for years on end I did chafe and fret:

By effort great that kingly hawk has come within my nest."

* * *

(Editor's note: "Tahajud", also known as "night prayer"

is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam.)

Syeda Alina Zahra: I'm a 20-year old emerging writer from Pakistan, currently working toward a Bachelors in Business Administration from a prestigious Business School in Islamabad. I have a deeply rooted love for poetry, prose and literature. I have won Rhythm in Space; Virtuoso at college level during World Space Week at Institute of Space and Technology in 2018. I have also been the recipient of award certifications at my university for poetry composition.

*For submission guidelines, click here.*

IMAGINE A WOMAN by Patricia Lynn Reilly

This poem invites you to look upon yourself with loving kindness… Gazing at your own true reflection, you will discover that everything you have longed for “out there” is already within you! I invite you to love your creativity fiercely. Faithfully plant seeds, allowing under-the-ground dormant seasons, nurturing your creative garden with love and gratitude. In the fullness of time, the green growing things thrust forth from the ground. It's a faithful, trustworthy process. AND it takes time and patience. Blessed is the fruit of your creative womb! I invite you to trust your vision of the world and express it. With wonder and delight, paint a picture, create a dance, write a book, and make up a song. To give expression to your creative impulses is as natural as your breathing. Create in your own language, imagery, and movement. Follow no script. Do not be limited by the customary way things have been expressed. Your creative intuition is original. Gather

IMBOLC by Caroline Mellor

The inspiration for this poem came after I watched a magical winter sunset and full moonrise from the top of Firle Beacon in the South Downs... Unusually for me, I wrote the poem quite quickly and changed it very little before publishing it – perhaps the energies were working through my pen! Imbolc is the mid-point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It’s a fire festival which I particularly love because of its associations with Brigid, the Celtic Mother Goddess of arts and crafts, clear sight, healing, inspiration and nurturance of creative talents – something which, through my writing, I am always trying to connect with. I also love Imbolc because, with so much darkness and negativity in the world today, it is a time for hope, potential, visioning and initiation. With love and blessings as the light returns. Photography by Chanel Baran IMBOLC by Caroline Mellor I am the dream of awakening. I am the returning of the night. I am the tough green

WINTER SOLSTICE: A GIFT OF LOVE by Carolyn Riker

I’ve had several days now of alone time… It is unusual and a gift that I couldn’t see until I breathed it. I have been able to watch the sun’s rise through the grey of dawn and smile at the flickers of frost melting on the waving boughs of evergreen. It’s unique to follow daylight as it traverses the tempo of a cat’s soft slumbering purr. Night comes swifter and the glow of candles and the flames of fire comfort me more than the steady stream of always-doing-more. As much as I resisted, I needed this break. I had no idea how much my body was trying to tell me slow down until the exhaustion settled in around my joints. My eyes swam in molasses. Heaviness of I-can’t-hold-out-much-long, walked me to the throne of my nest. It’s winter’s gift of self-nurturing and love. It’s been a quiet proclamation of femininity and a need for comfort foods. Lemon crisps and cranberry, white-chocolate shortbread dipped in tea; I felt a hint of being pampered without

Journey of the Heart

Search This Blog