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Greetings, Life

Hello life!

What have you seen?
How have you been?
Has time, in its transience, kept you keen?

Have you asked it its reason for being?
Have you asked destiny why it’s fleeing?
Have you asked faith why it’s redeeming?

Life, I wish you could respond,
My questions are many and correspond
To all that happens that only seems morbid.

News and social media, all expound on
All that is negative: violence, death, con,
Racism, segregation, depravity, and poison.

All that pessimism holds no importance
To our health and emotional stability, whose significance
Vis a vis a world that’s dominated by impudence.

Alter, change, deviate from all that’s the same,
Be ‘you’, unique, strong, and don’t play their game,
Play yours, turn it into a burning flame.


©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️


Author of Perfectly Flawed, poetry for change

https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518

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Stuffed grape vine

What’s your favorite recipe?

This very lebanese recipe comes in both a vegetarian and meat variation. I love both, really, but the ones that trigger love, family, and feasting on religious holidays, is the meat version. That one is made with lamb shoulder as a base, with the grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground beef, some top it with stuffed zucchini, but in our home it was just the meat and grape leaves. They are left to Simmer for about 12 hours so that the meat falls off the bones, the leaves become paper thin-easy to digest, and the rice absorbed all the flavors. We’d usually eat it with pita bread, fresh mint leaves, and green onions.

The smell of it cooking throws me back to my childhood, when I first got married, gatherings, and just happy times.

Poet, author of Perfectly Flawed: poetry for change.

https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518

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The Groundsel Weed

Woman in my dreams,
Hazy features covered, as you please,
By groundsels whose hairy filaments
Soar around her, blankets
Her from head to toe,
Trying vainly to get closer to blow
Its velvety softness in a Tornado
Of white that sweeps in an elegant flow.

She contemplates its fragility,
Wondering at the reality
Of how daintily flimsy
Its flower is, while its stem is definitely
Rooted in her heart, prettily
Proving it’s longevity.

She reverently catches a blowing
Head, as she admires its flowing
Dance, whose strength is glowing
In a sensual litany that’s dizzying.

Dream of the flower that nestles
Its thorns into delicate hearts
That beats for imagination that bleeds.

©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

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Another Certificate

This Honorable mention is for the following poem based on the below picture:

Flow of ONE

Sitting alone,
Surrounded by water’s flow,
Nature’s song humming in a glow
Of tweets, buzzing, crackling, whine,
All in a spontaneous symphony in a crown
Of glory, seeping into the soul in a halo
Of protection against a throw
Of reality imposing a tun
Of fear, that’s clear.

Enjoying
The simplicity of a world
Governed by nature’s cycling
Between life-and-death, beauty and terrifying.
The openness of a world that relies on its principles,
Automatically reduces dessension, as dividing
Is done innately, reverently, loving
Every difference,  embracing
Our merging as ONE.

©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

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Meeting of a possible spouse

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.

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Ordinary

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

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Hawaii

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

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Quiet

What do you listen to while you work?

When I’m in the zone working, I enjoy quiet solitude in order to promote concentration and better writing. When too much background noise is around me, I tend to feel overwhelmed by it, creating a faster heartbeat that can be exhausting.

So, a quiet environment is ideal, but I can be hyperfocused enough to tune out ‘white noise’ in order to achieve my objective.

If I’m doing something manually, exercise, cooking, baking, I enjoy listening to the recitation of the Quraan, as it has a musicality that pumps me with happy endorphins, envigorates my mind, and empowers me with Knowledge and understanding. 😊

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Liars

Liars, those who say they’ll do something and you know they’re lying. That’s one of my pet peeves. Dishonesty, politicians, and liars are all the same. They have a great disregard and disrespect for other people’s intelligence, but think very highly of themselves. It’s ironic really how liars don’t know how short the rope is for their lies and how quickly they get caught in them. I just wish more people are honest and forgo all the lies that complicate life.

What bothers you and why?

Autor of book, Perfectly Flawed: poetry for change https://www.amazon.ca/Perfectly-Flawed-poetry-Malak-Kalmoni/dp/1525582518

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Grandchildren & Writing

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: