Poetry for ChangeHow are you feeling right now?
I’ve had an amazing week with one of my poems being published in an anthology, Unsealed Your Greatness (Link: https://amzn.to/47RpSFt), another got an honorable mention, had my 30th wedding anniversary, and writing book reviews for Canadian Authors. So, I feel in my element, reading, writing, creating, and loving it!
My poem is included in this wonderful collection of authors from The Unsealed. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this project. The book is available on Amazon.com.
Please follow the link to buy the Kindle or physical copy of the book. It’s been getting great reviews.
What’s your favorite time of day?
Sunrise and sunset, the colors, the hope, the beauty of each transcends their transience. The quiet of each is a time of reflection that I take in order to assess what I’ve accomplished each day. I question my decisions, were they right? Did I hurt anyone? What can I do to make amends? But, most importantly, I take the time to voice my gratitude for the things I have and those I don’t.
Let the beauty of those times enrobe you in their mystery and hope propelling you into the unknown with a positive outlook.
Author of Perfectly Flawed, poetry for change.
Hold and Release
Hold, hold onto the fleeting sands
Sands of time, slipping, sliding, gliding,
Gliding along your fingers, sticking,
Sticking with muddy matter as it lands,
Lands in crumbs, crystallized pellicules,
Pellicules, colored, reflecting light,
Light that has the might of hopes,
Hopes that are flimsier than sand’s plight.
Plight of a continuously flowing bowl,
Bowl, forming, disintegrating, blazing,
Blazing a trail, making inroads, Hansel style,
Style that helps you find your way home,. Honing,
Honing your abilities, like the sand castle,
Castle changing shape, hearing, experiencing,
Experiencing upheaval of life’s emotional,
Emotional grind that shatters peace, raking,
Raking your soul into strips and crumb,
Crumb, that your creative hands glue,
Glue back together, to form a superb,
Superb soul that glitters,
Glitters in the sun, and shimmers,
Shimmers in the raven sky, bringers,
Bringers of hope, elusive but tangible, elevates humans.
©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?
During my parents’ time, the families of the ‘bride and groom’ would all meet together with the ‘possible couple’ several times before it was even deemed acceptable for them to go out together. Plus, the only way they were permitted to see each other socially was with a trusted chaperone, who could be a brother, sister, uncle, or cousin, depending on where the ‘couple’ wanted to go.
Even during my time that was watered down, but now it’s completely extinct with the age of the click and ‘modern’ perceptions that encourage greater independence while promoting falling in love. Moreover, people perceive that having the parents’ opinion is irrelevant to the couple’s future together. I, however, completely disagree with that, as a couple, especially ones living in the West, need a lot of help from their parents when they start their family. This requires that all parties can at least be civil to one another in order for that to take place. Plus, the children benefit from different generational perspectives that will help them have a better social understanding of what to expect when their peer circle increases to include friends from different races, cultures, and opinions.
How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?
I’m neither beautiful nor ugly. I am considered the shrimp in my family, as they think I’m short! I have shoulder-length hair, almond shaped brown eyes, hooded by my upper lid, a smallish nose that savors food aromas, and pink lips that try to be honest without hurting others.
I believe my character shows in my voice and simple actions of a nurturer. My voice is generally low and calm, unless provoked. I’m very sensitive, which shows in how carefully I choose my words, as I understand their possible negative effects on the person I’m speaking to.
I also wear a hijab, which helps me protect my modesty, keeps me humble, and respectful in the presence of others.
https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?
I’d take my youngest child, a girl, 23 already, with me as she’s had a fantasy about going to Hawaii. I believe her teenage adulation of the show, Hawaii Five 0, is in part to blame for her fascination with the island. The other reason for it is that it has tropical warm weather that heats you from the inside out.
https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518
‘Three things can never be taken back: a word
That’s spoken, an arrow speeding away from
its bowstring, and time that lapses.’*
As I look upon the candle flame,
Flame, I let reality drift into memories,
Memories good and bad alike, linger,
Linger with emotions that stomp.
Stomp out the flickering negativity,
Negativity, that drives you into a chasm,
Chasm, that festers in agony,
Agony of disappointment and betrayal.
Betrayal wrapped in honeyed words,
Words you can’t take back, flay,
Flay you open in twain. Obscuring,
Obscuring your light from shining,
Shining brighter than perfidy.
Perfidy of a stabbing arrow,
Arrow that starts feuds, wars,
Wars that bring death and destruction,
Destruction of lives, property, livelihoods,
Livelihoods that bring families, friends,
Friends and community to a stand-still.
Still that wee flame ignites passions, faith,
Faith that overcome the lapse,
Lapse of time, that flows like the sea,
Sea of time, that drowns each moment,
Moment in a flood that can’t be touched.
Let the flirting flame engulf your heart,
Heart with its heat and adulation to optimism.
*An Arabic saying, translated by the author inspired this poem, as well as the picture.
What are you most excited about for the future?
I look forward to baring witness to my children’s marriages and their kids. I dream of holding, playing, balancing, teaching, singing, reciting, and observing them at each stage of infancy. Dreams where one of hanging onto my skirt as I pray or jumping on my back if I’m picking something up. I feel the need to embue my soul with their innocent laughter and simplified perception of life.
As for my writing and poetry, I’d like to see that it has a greater audience and acceptance. I’ve been struggling with getting it out there for over 5 years, and I haven’t given up yet. I don’t think I will, as I feel I have a message that needs an audience.
Amazon link to my poetry book, Perfectly Flawed: https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518
Link to my podcast, exert, a poem, Subjugation, about postcolonialism and enslaved populations, from PerfectlyFlawed:
What is your favorite genre of music?
If you’re like me, for every mood you find yourself in, you choose a different type of music. For me, when I’m happy and cheerful, I enjoy upbeat music that makes me move to its rhythm. When I’m upset, sad, depressed, I enjoy something calm, quiet, instrumental, or romantic.
So enjoy every mood with all the frills that come with each one.
