A Poem by
Shakeel Syed

My Tear Drops
shakeel syed - september eleven - two thousand eleven

In it are my tears for the thousands on the morning of september eleven¹
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.

In it are my tears for the millions since october seven²
Those who were shirtless and in jilbabs³
Those who were plowing their fields and playing with their children
... full of life and love were they.

In it are my tears for tens of thousands since march nineteen⁴
Those who were shoeless and in burqas⁵
Those who were idling around the corner and learning in madrassat⁶
... full of hope and happiness were they.

In it are my tears for the hundreds since january eleven⁷
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

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1 The infamous terrorist attack (9.11.2001)
2 U.S. invasion on Iraq (10.7.2001)
3 Head to toe skirt that Arab women wear
4 U.S. invasion on Afghanistan (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)

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Shakeel Syed is the executive director of Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. More of his reflections can be read on his blog.