My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
In it are my tears for the thousands on the morning of september eleven [1]
Those who were dressed in slacks and shorts, and
Those who were running or being run in the strollers
… full of colors and cheers were they.
They were each on their own way but apart from one another, and yet …
Every one of them were one created by the same One
My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
In it are my tears for the millions since october seven [2]
Those who were shirtless and in jilbabs [3]
Those who were plowing their fields and playing with their children
… full of life and love were they.
They were each on their own way but apart from one another, and yet …
Every one of them were one created by the same One
My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
In it are my tears for tens of thousands since march nineteen [4]
Those who were shoeless and in burqas [5]
Those who were idling around the corner and learning in madrassat [6]
… full of hope and happiness were they.
They were each on their own way but apart from one another, and yet …
Every one of them were one created by the same One
My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
In it are my tears for the hundreds since january eleven [7]
Those who were innocent fathers and carefree sons
Those who were simply striving and shyly singing
… full of mercy and mischief were they
My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
My tears are for all and not for some
My sorrow is same for the New Yorkers, the Baghdadis and the Kabulis
My grief is equal for the Washingtonians and the West Bankers
My love is for all and not only for some
My tears are more than a drop – they are an ocean pregnant with silent sorrows
Shakeel Syed is the Executive Director at Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.
Notes
[1] The infamous terrorist attack (9.11.2001)
[2] U.S. invasion on Afghanistan (10.7.2001)
[3] Head to toe skirt that Arab women wear
[4] U.S. invasion on Iraq (3.17.2003)
[5] The south Asian version of Arab women’s attire
[6] Literally – translated as a school
[7] First batch of detainees brought into Guantanamo (1.11.2002)
