Baba has birds.

many many many birds

they fly in all directions while you are counting

fly outside until it gets dark while you are counting

give birth while you are counting

dance while you are counting

disappear while you are counting

I stopped counting

I enjoy watching.

Baba has birds

many many many birds

all sorts of birds

of magnificent colors

black feathers, yellow feathers, red feathers, brown feathers and whites

Arabian birds, Palestinian birds, Obirignal birds, Native American birds… from all roots & nations

settled and migrant birds

love and passion birds.

Baba has birds

many many many birds

from mountains, deserts, seas and lands

vibrant forests and dazzling sounds

ALL live in ONE big family

share songs and dreams

with joy flattering their wings.

Baba travelled to Heaven in November

I flew from one land to another in December

colorless days and cold nights

two years of silence

finally I returned to motherland.

Baba’s birds are sad, lonely and cannot sing

I open the gates

Shoo! Go! Go! We are orphans!

our tears pouring like rivers

some fly away

but the grey doves stay!

Like my father everyday

I feed them their favorite food: milk and honey

my heart sings:

love you always baba and love you baba’s birds.

Dedicated to my father on fathers’s day 2020

27/6/2020

Written by Najat Alshafie