Oct 6, 2022Member-onlyThe Peace HelmetIt’s a glorious Sunday morning here in Montpellier, South of France. Montpellier is reputed to have the greatest number of sunny days a year in all of France, over 300 days! In the center of this sun-bathed town, lies the Peyrou gardens. And every Sunday, the city organizes “Les Dimanches…Life3 min readLife3 min read
Oct 6, 2022Member-onlyWhen My Brother LaughsShe sat on the kitchen table, her hands landed on her lap, palms facing the ceiling. Her eyes looked straight ahead, past the kitchen into the entrance hall and peered into the freshly punched hole. The hole seemed to be mocking her with its wide-open mouth and vicious teeth. She…Life3 min readLife3 min read
Apr 19, 2022Member-onlyKilling a DogShe lay there in drug induced peace while her mama stared at her face tracing the stitches that went from her left ear across her half her jaw and down her neck and up to her right cheek. Her beautiful six years old child is scarred for life, physically and…Life3 min readLife3 min read
Apr 15, 2022Member-onlyFinding HomeWe head out of the restaurant towards the tramway and pick up where we left off: “Finding home has been a lifelong preoccupation of mine. As you suggested, it has plenty to do with one’s community, friends, and family. But the reality is, for so many of us, we’re in…Life3 min readLife3 min read
Apr 12, 2022Member-onlyThe Homeless Man Who Offered Me BreadThere is rampant homelessness in Montpellier, South of France. Perhaps it’s the clement weather and relatively cheaper life, but maybe also due to the fact that the whole Hérault department of which Montpellier is the epicenter is one of the poorest in France. Not to compare miseries, but to give…Life4 min readLife4 min read
Apr 11, 2022Member-onlyEncouraging Girls to Major in STEM FieldsUsing my 20 years career in software engineering, as a girl and woman. — Recently, I joined a local association for “women in science and engineering”, here in France. One of the missions of this group is to encourage young girls to go into these fields, by direct interventions at schools. The idea being to talk face-to-face to the students about the importance of…Life Lessons4 min readLife Lessons4 min read
Apr 1, 2022Member-onlyForgiveForgive, while your heart aches in your chest Forgive, while your wounds bleed to your death Forgive, while your rage soars in a daze Forgive, while your tears flood you…Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min readForgiveForgive, while your heart aches in your chestForgive, while your wounds bleed to your deathForgive, while your rage soars in a dazeForgive, while your tears flood you…----3
Mar 21, 2022Member-onlyPublications With A Different ViewTMR is an American Publication written by the non-American diaspora within the U.S., giving English readers all over the world a different perspective of the narrative. — The Mission The Markaz Review supports a deeper understanding of the Arab/Muslim world, in the Middle East, Africa and our diasporas in Europe and the Americas, with its publishing activities and public programs. …Publication2 min readPublication2 min read
Mar 14, 2022Member-onlyThe Sins of the New DayToday’s impossible prompt: a poem about spring celebrations and peace — Sunday, March 20th, marks the beginning of Spring in earth’s northern hemisphere. It is that moment in the astronomical cycle when the sun is exactly above the equator making the day and night equal, announcing sunnier times, longer days and shorter nights. In some parts of the world, for some…Spring Equinox6 min readSpring Equinox6 min read
Mar 8, 2022Member-onlyThe Pigeons’ LairEvery day, on the way to school, or when we’re out and about around town, we pass the same homeless persons, at the same locations. They are always at their self-allotted spots. I wondered why they stick to a specific location, so I asked my mom if she knew: “Well…Short Story6 min readShort Story6 min read