“Arab from Old Days” Rashid Al-Shafi’s Creative Rationale:
P
alestine is important to me because what happens there for the Palestinian citizens is not fair because they are being killed and kicked out of their country. I wanted to clarify my ideas in poetry. My poem is a way for me to show my opinion. I'm not the only man that protests through poetry, we read Say Her Name by Zetta Elliot and all the poems were protest poems. I hope people try to search and know the truth, not what some biased channels publish. When people see what I have created using my own choices and agency, I hope they appreciate the time it took me to work and try to search about what happens there. I think the most effective ways to use my voice and my agency is when you protest but many do it online because these days social media feels less risky. I know that is different than someone who protest in real life because the rules are different. We learned many ways to make your voice heard--holding posters, writing poems, banners, and lastly going to protest in real life and having mic and talk with a loud voice. My poem is not loud but it is my voice.
Palestine Poem I am Arab From old days Tales of war Bombs are flying Bodies multiplying See the people crying What are you fighting for? Oh Palestine Oh Palestine
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