Newborn

by Ameena Bakaev

Awakening with a deep breath from heart

And with that cry of life that’s heard first

A beauty beyond comparison

That brings joy and warmth

Such a beautiful cry that breaks the hardest metal

That’s the one, That’s the newborn

The beautiful creation of god

That’s the smile

That’s the hope

That’s the new joyful greeting

And here is the grateful acceptance

Here is the great care of love

The mother, The father, The relatives

Greeting that beautiful angel

To a world that’s the opponent

And life that’s waiting to live,

Meeting others, meeting the creator

Choosing the right path, fighting for the right path

Finding love and following footsteps

Patience and payback for love and care

And finally with the same smile

Preparing for the next journey in the after life

While here is the pain of separation

That’s it, Life, an endless journey

Capture the ABP Patterns

Photo by Michael Grossman

This week, the Creative Writing Club had planned to meet with the Photography Club for our third dual-club endeavor, but none of their club members showed up! In all fairness, on the verge of the end of the semester and finals, it is a difficult time of year. Anyway, we wrote off into the sunset without them and look forward to resuming our meetings with them in the Spring semester. Good luck everyone...

In our writing, we spent much of our time capturing the PATTERNS that we noticed around the ABP. What's that? Patterns? You don't understand? Read some of our results below...

Photo by Michael Grossman

Diamond Around

by Nayrouz A. ElAzzabi

One her, one them!
Blue carpet inside, cloudy sky outside.
Standing teacher sin here, sitting students in there.
Scattered papers on the table,
Passing ideas in my mind.
It's in here, it's in there.
Look around, look inside.
Outside is a pattern, inside a miracle.
Systematic organs, organized systems.
White blood cell, red blood cell.
Take O2 in, let CO2 out.
Inhale in a way, exhale in another way.
Let it in, let it out.
It is a pattern, ain't it?!
What is that, who is that?
One circle, one line.
Does it have a pattern?
Does it exist?
Is it here? Is it here?
Yes, it is all in a pattern.

Photo by Michael Grossman

a yellow swirl

like an abstract sun
the Faculty of Islamic Studies logo
a wall of ovals          white and grey
wooden slats on the lockers
the checkerboard texture on Lecture Hall C
outlined with rectangle lights set in the floor
blue with black lines and dots
flags of your teachers' countries of origin
white and green stripes on the leaves of the plant
a circular speaker cover
the light at the top of the column

Photo by Michael Grossman

Shapes Again & Again

by Fatema Abdul Salik

Blue concentric circles,

Red square boxes.

Everything seems to be full of patterns.

The silver metal running on the ground,

Each small black line in the clock.

All patterns seem to be hidden to the hurrying eye.

Blue, purple and red,

The spines of books so colorful and repeated.

Patterns hidden in the cloudy sky.

The black stones on white cloth,

The thin veins of the leaves.

Everything seems to be full of patterns.

Photo by Michael Grossman

Give Thanks

As the American holiday of Thanksgiving is approaching, write about something for which you are thankful.

See you next week for our last meeting of the semester!

Journeying on Well-Traveled Roads

By Fatema Abdul Salik

I miss the days that were.

My brother was young and I could carry him everywhere.

When dawn would rise and I would not hurry.

Walk around with eyes sleepy and blurry.

My mother would take care—

Of anything I needed for my daily fare.

I miss the days that were.

My brother was young and I could carry him everywhere.

Sitting on the kitchen counter with my legs swinging.

The scents that now leave memories lingering.

Every year I waited for rain that would freeze.

My hair flying in the cold breeze.

Those childhood days that leave me pining;

Where mama and papa were my only stars shining.

I miss the days that were.

My brother was young and I could carry him everywhere.

Mother

by Ameena Z. Bakaev

Tears that are wiped

Hands that are held

A warmth that is around

Non limited joy

Kindness of an angel

Youngness of an immortal

One and only

Unbreakable love

Massive care

Over her own

To a yet to be born

Her feet's above paradise

Everlasting miracle 

Reaching closer than other

Weather

Weather doesn't really change much here; however, after a few consecutive days of rain and otherwise stormy weather, everyone thought it would be a good idea to write about it.

I am the Weather

by Ameena Z. Bakaev

I am the weather

I surround all around

I can show and I can hide

I can see and I can talk

And paint the picture that I want 

I am the weather

I am the one

I'm the dusty, I'm the fog 

I'm the snowy, I'm the sunny 

And therefore I can paint myself 

I am the weather 

I am the cause 

I am the ruler, I command 

I can switch and I can flip

The atmosphere that's in my fist

I am the weather 

I am your friend 

I am your enemy 

I am a family

And I judge back the way I'm judged 

And for the last time

Missed

by Nadia ElMeragawi

The vows they had made
To honour and love
In the eyes of God above
Had been broken
Simply tossed away
Left to fade
Day after day
Leaving nothing but despair
Leaving unlived moments
Days that could have been
But never were
Made up of words
Words of kindness
That our poor hears crave
Never spoken
Left to fade
Ended love, ended respect

Looking back
Things could have been done differently
Moments lived, moments loved
Words spoken
Nothing left inside
Our hearts opened up wide
With no need to hide
The feelings within
Out in the world
Expressed, lived, remembered.

I miss the moments
The possibilities
Days I could live
Days I could have lived
Feelings I once had
Vows that once were made.

How Do I Like the Weather?

by Alia Ali Al-Semeiti

The sun crosses the clouds
you can't see
the sun, but you can feel the heat in
the air.
When the clouds spit on me
wind and sun with blue sky
hearing raindrops
when wind makes trees dance.

Raining Tears of Joy and Happiness

by Noor Odeh

Raining tears of joy and happiness, wishing I can go back to the happy moments I shared with loved ones. Tears of happiness pour down my face covering the tears of sadness and sorrow. I express when darkness rises in the day, i feel, and see the past flash before my eyes. Trying to catch time, but it's so fast. Time is my enemy. Moments of happiness trapped in the past, I know it's certain they can never come back or be replayed. I just have to live in the present and future with the feeling of wanting to cry under the rain.

Exquisite Corpse Haiku Chain

This week, the Creative Writing Club members created an exquisite corpse composed of haiku chains. We all contributed words to the following master set of vocabulary: chop, cold, cry, extract, mountain, oil, run, table, tree, wave, wind and wrench.

Creative Writing Club Group Haiku

Oiling dead trees tables
Mountains full of cold snow
Cry for the shepherd

Running with the wind
Under the mountain's wing it cries
Tables shook nervously

Wind flows all the way
Drops of rain form in sick clouds
Who will cry for you?

Run with the wind in your hair
Trees running alondside

*

Chopping trees
Wrenching roots, watching oil flow
Crying trees, green blue

Mountains scream aloud
In horror they hide under tables
Wind's throat turned sour

Water comes from mountains

Seeds grow into new trees, chop down
Wind, clouds, rain, winter
Watch dancing water

Wrench and extract happiness
Crying soul of Earth

*

Oil created through centuries
Water flows through centuries
Trees drank, death made tables

Mountains devoured
Oil extracting from the ground
Wind running to watch

Mountains formed crystals
Watch water move
Extract oil, soil, water

Your soul flows closer
Cry, run, get blown far away
Water chops, waves arise

*

Water cries when wind blows
Watch it flow and run wild
Wind forms what we need

Water is what we need
Suspend life in tables chairs
Our seat in the trees

Cry for chop of trees
Water wrenched and suspended
Crying leaves on trees

Watch trees cry
Mountains cringe, oily rivers
Flow through the desert

*

Trees crying leaves
Extracting useful materials
Watch trees cry

Mountains firm, green life grew
On dead wood we watch closely
tears run like river

Mountains watch Silence
Extracted flowers pensively
flowers flow over the trees

Trees whispering fears
run toward an opening wound
watch the wind blow right

*

wind blows cold sweet
trees get chopped when water flows
Mountains wrenched to run

Trees taught survival
wind send what we need.
oil fumes run with wind

watch our city tip
fun on table like crazy
Mountains watch and celebrate

Running ants in trance
ants cry over trees
chop-chop the trees down

*

Glowing oil flows
dinner table's sticky tears
oil gets suspended

wind chopped through trees
cries echoed lonely Earch
watching wind flow

seeds scatter, life grows
wrenching meaning from a sun
watch the wind get mad

oil boiling, not flowing
Trees producing hunger reducing
watch mountains run

The People Behind the ABP & Clubs Join Forces

For the second time this year, we tried to bring two clubs together to work on an activity. As the end of another marking period nears, November is a tough time, and interest seems to drop as there are numerous rival activities such as ACT, IELTS and SAT preparation courses, other clubs and the ever-increasing strain of homework.

Even though Mr. Mike was the lone representative of the Photography Club to attend our meeting this week, we made a goal of trying to capture the people that make the ABP work. The Creative Writing Club members did it in words, and Mr. Mike tried with photography.

If you could not attend, feel free to capture the people who help make the ABP function and send them to me or post them here. Read some of our results below...

ABP

by Ameena Z. Bakaev

walking, strolling, whatever it is they call it

right, left and all around 

there he sits, there he learns

there she chats, and there she laughs

love and friendship all around

sharing some and keeping some

learning news and sharing olds

there they are, there they are 

doing something or doing nothing

as long as they are here

there is nothing to fear

upstairs and downstairs, all around

there are the great ones with the tiny ones

there he teaches and there he learns

giving and taking from each one another

and food is all around

and there is coffee along!

all of these are in one thing indeed

starts with A, along with B and ends with P

its not home but its good enough to be 

where learning and fun gathers to one

by Michael Grossman

ABP's Building Blocks

by Nayruz A. ElAzzabi

SawSan
Smile
Fill life with happiness.
Food is delicious.
Pasta
Let's be friends.

Anonymous Girl
Barefoot
Red shoes on the ground.
Doesn't care
Give me my coffee
Blah Blah Blah

Workers
Give me a gray shirt
Give me purple trousers.
Let's make a change.
Let me make it better.

Starbucks Worker
Nourish people
Exchange riyals
I'm sharing milk
You'll feel better.

Miss Paula
Life is a process.
Just keep going.
Solve for x because
y can't be
left alone (unsolved).

Dr. Avril
Synthesize your thoughts.
Activate the enzymes.
Catalyze your life, keep the
process going...

by Michael Grossman

Counselling Her Students, She Gathers the Pieces of our Future

by Fatema Abdul Salik

Counselling her students, she gathers the pieces of our future,
Teaching his pupils, the math class is full of rationality.
Cleaning tables, I would not like to study on dirty furniture,
Secure the perimeter, without security there would be so much danger.

Banging on the keyboards, where would we be without an internet network?
Oxford dictionaries falling over, teaching English needs a lot of passion. 
Heads full of enzymes, the Biology teacher is good at scientific methodology,
Ages past from parchment to paper, the librarian keeps record of all the borrowing.

Whispering in low voices, the students are play eating,
Each person in a hurry, they might miss the bus.
Clinging like a lifeline, the clubs are a relief from a hard day.
Some talking, some studying, all the students are busy.

by Michael Grossman

People Smile

by Alia Ali Al-Semeiti

Dr. Marci Linsey
Dr. Mark
Ms. Jean Ann Witthoft
Fatima Chowdhury
Paula
Suzzanne Pautler
Ms. Marci Brown
Ms. Aggie Ellam
Ms. Christine Fuller

by Michael Grossman

What Do You Miss?

Cartoon from Education Week.

The Creative Writing Club is not meeting this week, but you can post your response to this topic, if you like: What do you miss in your life? A feeling? A friend that moved away? Some special childhood toy? A special place?

Write something about what you miss and share it with us!

I Miss You

by Fatima Chowdhury

Feels as if it was only yesterday when I saw you

We laughed, we talked and you told me how loved I was

But I turned away.
If only I knew...

I would enfold you in my embrace; I would wish your pain away
Words cannot express for all that you’ve done

I want to hear your voice again
I want to call you but I know you won’t be there

I just want hide cause it’s you I miss

Why? Why did it have to come to this?

Can’t I just have one more day with you?

I want to tell you how much I’ve missed you since that fateful day

But it’s dangerous

To turn back time

I wait for that day we meet again

Until then... I Miss You...

by Tala B. Anatawi

We once had innocence in us

But the ocean’s waves have done their job

Their turbulence and anger denatured us

I miss the little white spot within me

Within everyone I once thought I knew

It’s like gaining filthy wisdom

If this is wisdom then I believe it’s just superfluous

But there’s always a new day

The Sun will be back

But its view isn’t the same

And will never be the same…

by Ameena Z. Bakaev

There are many people I would miss in my life because of all the great loss,

But sometimes my memory controls who I keep and who I lose. However,

There is only one person I could miss so bad that I lose my mind sometimes.

The same person who I loved, cared, respected, and always had good times with.

The same person who raised my family and me, he's gone now but that doesn't mean the end.

I know someday we will meet again and, until then, tears, pain, and pressure won't do any good, 

But strength, smile, relief, fear, and patience can make sense for the day to come.

I miss you terribly and so

I miss you terribly and so
I go through with my day
in the same old way and I go on.
I was born that way.

I miss you more than you'll ever know,
(except now you do)
and you'll miss me, too, and won't
think about it in the morning.

I miss you more often than not,
but I forgot who or when or I thought
I did.

I miss the kid who grew into a man,
who grew to understand
so little.

I miss you a little and a lot.
I'm not perfect. I'm in the middle of this.

I miss the beginning and the end
of an episode,
one friend or another.

I miss my brother in another state,
my mother who stays up late
or doesn't (she never did).
I miss my sis a tad,
my dad and my old life.

I miss my wife when we're apart,
and art when I can't make it
(I fake it).

Don't wake up for me.

In fact, I miss every minute
that passes in the masses
of memories before me.

Found Poem Cut-Up

Lines from the list of novels below were cut up and mixed together. Club members chose handfuls of lines and arranged them into poems and stories.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath, The Black Pearl by Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, Pearls of Wisdom compiled, selected or devised by Harry Millner, The River Between Us by Richard Peck, The Last Treasure by Janet S. Anderson, Coroline by Neil Gaiman, Journey by Danielle Steel, Under the Watson’s Porch by Susan Shreve, Princess Academy by Shannon Hale,Spells Trouble by Clarice Bean, The Celebrated Jumping Frog and Other Stories by Mark Twain, Men are from Mars, Women from Venus by John Gray, Life: Selected Quotations by Paulo Coelho, and By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho.

A Wise Ignorance is an Essential Part of Knowledge.

In order to live fully,
Play in the playground. There's almost as many of
Mechanical puzzles, where you have to let one piece go
Whaling with something else and that's what I'm going to
Get out of here
In order to make sense of everything
Cry. There was no other sound in the empty flat.
Because everyone's got cats of their own already
We are here for a short time--let's get all the laughter
That must be where the picture was
And you must find your treasure.

Something Good Will Happen to You!

This week's topic is a general idea, and you can respond in any way that you like. The topic is: Something good will happen to you!

A Gift from Nihilism

 by Nairuz A. ElAzzabi

"Am I blind?
Why is it all Dark?
Where are they?
Why is there no one in here?
Wait a second!
Oh, God!
That was a Nightmare."

The girl was lying on her bed, folding her arms under her hand.

Her eyes were staring at the ceiling. The height inspired her. She can reach new levels in life. She can get up and try hard to make it.

The girl got out of her bed.

"Take the Chance," the window said. The light outside of the window nourished the girl. Sunlight was so enticing that it powered the girl. "It is a New day, a new chance, something good could happen," the girl said happily.

"Start with yourself," the mirror whispered.

"I have faith in You. I love you," the door said. "I do Believe in you."

Writing

by Latifa Al-Kuwari

lying there staring at the
ceiling dreaming about it

screaming yelling

craziness around her

but the time stops when she
starts thinking about it

future love happiness

whatever it takes whatever she
has to do

she will still wait
for it

A Young Child.

by Nadia ElMeragawi

A young child. An imagination that ran wild.
She worried and scared.
She was never prepared.
Life came along and took her under its wing.
She was as happy as a lonely king.
She waited for good to come.
She waited a while.
What else could she have done.

Something Good Will Happen to You!

You're reading this poem (or listening
to the words). Isn't that good?
Isn't being together?
Another day is winding down
and the most difficult part is over.
Isn't it over?
The mystery will be solved
when you get home,
when you get to your room.
Someone is waiting for you,
even if it is only you-know-who.
Are you what you thought you would be?
Can you be better? Can someone?
Is it enough to be OK or so-so?
I don't know.
Isn't it good to know?

Something Good Will Happen to You

by Ameena Z. Bakaev

Smile, laugh, Cheer up!

Something good will happen to you

where is that?

when is that?

what is that?

no idea! but,

something good will happen to you

Is it he?

Is it she?

Or is it it?

no idea! but

something good will happen to you

How do I know?

How come that I know?

I don't! but,

something good will happen to you.

So smile, laugh and cheer up!

jump, run, play around!

give good so you can get goods.

something good will happen to you.

Fibonacci Sequence or Cinquain

Working on a Fibonacci Sequence.

This week, seven students and two instructors attended our meeting. Creative Writing Club members worked on Cinquains and Fibonacci Sequences. Each line in your response should have the corresponding number of syllables or words:

Cinquain
2, 4, 6, 8, 2

Or Butterfly Cinquain
2, 4, 6, 8, 2, 8, 6, 4, 2

Fibonacci Sequence
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, etc.

Do you have any ideas for the next meeting? Feel free to post your ideas here!

Come (a Fibonacci Sequence)

by Amna Al-Suwaidi

come
quickly
have fun
more time there
seat and sea so successfully
summer and sand, breeze and wind so hot
Dead dray don't try digging deep into the ground don't dare
come clear

Worn-Out Being (a Cinquain)

by Nairuz A. ElAzzabi

Worn-out Being
All day, All tired
Teachers Assign Exams
Do well, Better Grades. No pain, No Gain.
Peaceful sleep

One Atom (a Butterfly Cinquain)

by Nairuz A. ElAzzabi

One Atom
Six neutrons, six protons.
Two shells, No lose = No Gain.
Let share electrons equally.
One Atom
Where do Hydrogens sleep?
We need Party Here.
Give me one. i give other
Carbohydrates are better made.
I, Carbon

Run (a Fibonacci Sequence).

by Asma Al-Kauri & Nadia ElMeragawi

Run.
Bow ties.
Rose dies!
Nope. Just kidding;
gets thrown in parallel-universe-survives!
Doctor cries. Torchwood falls. Tardis flies miles high.
Time and Relative Dimension in Space, the Blue Box
throughout history-always present.

Butterfly (a Butterfly Cinquain)

Day-flying insect
of the order Lepidoptera
lays eggs on leaves. Caterpillar larva
hatches hungry and begins eating, shedding skin again
and again.
It makes a chrysalis. The caterpillar changes quickly.
When the chrysalis opens, a butterfly
emerges with folded wings.
It rests.

The Words of the Academic Bridge Program

Text Scavenger Hunt

The Creative Writing Club members met in the English Room and then walked down to C035 to meet with the Photography Club as we had planned a group activity for both clubs.

Mr. Mike called it a Scavenger Hunt. Members from both clubs walked around the Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS) Building and looked for words and text. Photography Club members captured text in their photographs and Creative Writing Club members recorded text in writing. Read the and view some of the results below.

What language have you noticed around the LAS Building?

Galaxy

by Noora Al-Zahrani

energy
security
COFFEE
Chocolate
step up!
Pompeii
life and death
star
similarities
travel
together
future
sleeping creating
road
light
yourself

Fitness

by Amna Al-Suwaidi

time Fire
action bless
special years
President Join
Hall
Fall
university
details
Flow
Society
Room
museum
life
death
world

Exit

by Nairuz A. ElAzzabi

Maze Steps
colored wooden Boxes. Fresh grass.
store Glassed-rooms
Fire Advertisement.
Flame Cafe connected Diamonds
Emergency Halls
Escape A girl on the sofa.
Route Starbucks coffee. 4454 0999
Danger CELL emergency #
Reflection Atom Clock
Mirror Matter Stripes.
Hole White coat Fans
not organized The white chair Hands
Mixture 3-D structures. Flags
Light C12/6 Water
Save energy
Circle Green hands.

Two Photographs

by Dalal A. Al-Ishaq

Desert

by Fatema Abdul Salik

Betrayal Destiny Exit
Reckoning Women Constellation
Stars Tame Bridge
Cave Mind Reader
Debate
Symmetries of Nature Molecule Invest
New Marvel Lecture
Sugar 393
Infinity Ripple Room
Doctor Ethics
Goals
Folio Cleaning
Tanks Teacher
Cooking Leader
Pompeii
Idiots Sessions
Taj Mahal Studies
Residual
Light Duration
On
Stone Services
Asking Majlis
Shard Echoed
Stereotype Pioneer
Fire

Lanyard

by Arwa K. Al-Sahouti

Galaxy

by Alia Ali Al-Semeiti

Available
welcome
Event
Lithium
Starbucks
future
university
mistakes
Emergency
escape
fine
Report
evacuate
safety
Danger
stop
security

Two Photographs

by Mike Grossman

the world

of ABP
the Daily Pompeii Foundation
Go Badgers
Gentlemen only technology
in case of fire
all visitors must follow
this room
using technical analysis
be part of the action
exchange windows
in the library
the train
put a smile
in the same direction

Write an Acrostic

This week, the Creative Writing Club members met and wrote acrostics. Wikipedia defines acrostic as "a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells our a word or a message." Please continue reading to see what club members created!

Tala

by Tala Anatawi

Telegraphically picky

Absolute acoustic           

Listener

Affectionately empathetic

Alia Alsemaiti

by Alia Al-Semaiti

A place to go for vacation London
Love
I am exhausted
Apple what I need

ABP I think it's the right choice
Lesson is a perfect think in a relationship
So much to do
English
Math is a way of
A lot of good things
Imagine
Tests make me go crazy
Instagram

Noora Alzahrani

by Noora S. Al-Zahrani

Not anyone else it's just me!
Optimistic
Organized
Rose.
A lot of undescriptive words.

Admirable person
Love is not enough for him
Zero hate emotions could be found in his heart
Ambitious
Honest person
Romantic husband
A million words are not enough to describe
No one dares to make him feel sad
I just love him a lot

Noor Odeh

by Noor Odeh

Novel and new

Odd if two

Observant of everything beautiful in life

Rear and front

Original

Design on

Earth from

Heaven

Bob Marcacci

Beautiful
Obscure
Bird

Miracle
Assembly
Ranging
Closer
Always
Clearer
Christening
Infinity

Latifa

by Latifa Al-Kuwari

              Liking to learn about unusual stuff
              Analyzing complicated issues
              Trying to create something different
using my Imagination to come through this life
     being Fluctuates in some way
              Awesomeness

Fatema Fear Love

by Fatema Abdul Salik

Falling down the hill, I gather the wild blooms,
Attractive songs of birds banishing the gloom.
Trying to come to an end, I am happy moving,
Elated with the morning cheer, the sun is glowing.
Mellowing the mood, vanishing the tears,
Allowing the failure to flow, the success nears.

Feeling the terror,
Eating away at your heart.
Alienating you from your near and dear,
Roaring in your ears, lightening the bars.

Looking in the eyes,
Overflowing with affection.
Vowing never to erase that sight,
Eclipsing any hate ever present.

Describe a Place in the ABP

What will you remember about the ABP? Can you capture its unique characteristics in writing?

Choose a place in the ABP and write a description of it.

Library

walk across the blue-black sea

book to book

a wood chair is a buoy

desks islands

sky white with circular suns and light

silver sprinklers

Surrender!

Write a response to the expression: There is no option but surrender.

There is no other option other but to surrender

by Abdelrahman Kamel

No one can remember

The day on December when everything meant nothing and nothing meant everything.

When I opened the door of a man-made machinery and there it was.

A piece of my heart was laying there with colorful anxiety and cheerfulness.

I tried to resist but the smell of happiness overcame me

As waves of joy and

There is no other option but to surrender

As far as I remember

What matters is not our color wealth or gender

We stand strong in times of darkness

But keep in our mind and wonder

As times go by our rose is deserved

By days in which we feel unachieved

Ignorance and tolerance should not put a frown on our lives and faces

Sometimes surrendering is the most effective weapon used to attack our enemy but then be deceived. At the end what matters most is not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends  

Chosen Path

by Sa'eeda Mu'azu

I did not want to come to Qatar

But my parents forced it on me

After which I pleaded with sympathy of not knowing anyone over there

However they didn’t seem to care

After days of crying and pleading

I realized no one cared about how I felt

Then I knew my only choice was to surrender to the path chosen for me

There was no other choice but surrender.

by Rawa Yousfi
With arms wrapped around me, slowly sucking the air out of my lungs and suffocating me, there was no other choice but surrender. This hug, this act of love and compassion seems to be too strong for my heart to resist. I surrender. I surrender to a friend who I once considered an enemy. I can still feel his knife in my back, piercing my skin. I am in between love and treason, but I surrender myself. I don’t know what I surrender myself to. It could be heaven, it could be hell. Perhaps it’s a mixture of both: him.

Take more time

There were still people

I feel deep sorrow

It has a cash value

There is no argument

No alternative

We urge anyone

Occasionally

This type of networking is a limited-intake,

Non-profit, no-kill surrender

We have no other options

Without destroying the ship

It is important

You will have no other choice

A dead hero

The Beast

by Sa'eeda Mu'azu

The book Lord of the Flies shows the beast in humans

I see a lot of people running from it

Even me

But with the beast of some growing

We are all forced to surrender to that little beast in us

Sometimes for just a minute

Or the less fortunate forever

ABP Personification

ABP Creative Writing Club in action!

Personify an object. Write about an object in the room as if YOU are the object. What would that object do, say, see, hear, think?

I'm on a Shelf

by Abdelrahman Kamel
I'm on a shelf, that accommodates thousands like me 

What lies before the eyes are covers of what humans might be 

When I look at them walking here of there 

I see showdows that hardy have a moment to spare 

When someone picks me up I feel as a child of their own while covers of others shine out of misery.

When someone reads me I feel as if I'm more than a story

More than a sad dusty neglected story  on a shelf of empty recyclable books with endless boogers and marks of sneezing. I feel as if the luck of opening my cover and unleashing the work of art that was created by my writer is the reason why i like sitting of that old shelf after all. There is nothing more powerful than the love that transcends other difficult times. at at the end of the day I'm glad that I'm a paperback script on a shelf 

Words of an Eraser

by Rawa Yousfi

I allow you to make mistakes; I forgive and forget,

I hide your shame, and save you from humiliation,

I give you second chances, chances for recreation,

I hide the ghosts of the past, create a better future,

I am your friend, your helping hand, your tutor,

You, imperfect human, you’re destined to failure,

You’re nothing without me; I am your savior,

You take me for granted, but I’m a genius invention;

You rarely think of my role, barely give me attention,

I feel neglected, rejected,

I’m always ignored and forgotten,

You throw me away, and then ask “where’s the eraser?”

I’m only remembered when you need a favor,