Ambivert

To mark my 300th post, I'm sharing a collection of poems by Mahmoud Darwish. His powerful words offer deep insights into love and separation. Enjoy! I love you despite the nose of my tribe, my city and the chains of customs. But I'm afraid if I sell everyone, you will sell me and I'll return with disappointments. 'I felt like my homeland was occupied again.' Out of my ignorance I called you a homeland, and I forgot that homelands are taken away. Drink your coffee, embrace the silence, do not take people seriously, do not take life upon yourself, do not exaggerate your emotions, and do not please anyone against your will. Don't befriend me for a day, and leave me a month. Don't get close to me if you're going to leave. Don't say what you don't do. Be close or get away. A University degree, four books and hundreds of articles and I still make mistakes when reading. You wrote me 'good morning' and I read it as 'I love you'. Poetry an...

The world has to see you as human, Not perfect, not sculpted in gold. One-handed truths, As long as you are invisible to yourself, you are invisible To the stories you’ve never told. It does not require perfect answers Or smiles that never break. “It needs your trembling courage,” he said, And the risks you’re afraid to take. Be human through all of your becoming, In the nights you don’t feel enough A line of people In the stillness of your troubles, In the days when breathing feels tough. Let them understand the meaning of your tears, Every one a truth you survived. Let them see how you fall apart And still want to go on living. It is distant and cold, perfection; It teaches the heart to pretend, to conceal. But humanity holds out its hands And says, “You don’t have to mend.” Your scars aren’t a sign of weakness They prove that you at least tried. What you loved with an open heart, And refused to feel numb inside. So show up messy and honest, With faith...