BassemKurdi.com » English Poems

My Last Morning

Bassem — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:50:13 +0000

The sun rays slowly sneak through the blinds

I open my eyes in momentary oblivion to the dim truth

It dawns on me that you are not by my side

I close my eyes to complete my dream of you

I hide under the covers from the cruel world

I’ll stay safe in here imagining you in my head

In the silence I can easily hear your words

“Good morning.” I usually smile but now I cry instead

My feet touch the cold floor and my brain awakes

I robotically brush my teeth while staring at the mirror

I look into my own eyes filled with despair and I break

What good is my reflection standing alone without yours?

It’s a difficult task choosing the clothes to wear

I stand there unable to make a simple decision

I pick what’s closest to me and I just don’t care

I remember how you always say it’s art and precision

I drink my coffee black and bitter like my soul

I flip through the morning newspapers mindlessly

I inhale my cigarette hoping the smoke will fill the hole

Every day I keep repeating the cycle endlessly

I turn off the lights in the apartment and in me

Today I will not go through the routine life motions

This is my last morning, I seek the permanent dream

With a smile and a sunny backdrop, I walk into the ocean

Filed under: English Poems

Purpose

Bassem — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:52:17 +0000

Am I your dream?

Or only the person you wake up to?

Am I the destination?

Or the journey you had to go through?

Am I your reason to cry?

Or the just the shoulder to cry on?

Am I your sacred secret?

Or the trophy you show to everyone?

Did you wait for me?

Or did I just show up in the right moment?

When you’re heart was vulnerable

And it was ready to be easily stolen?

Did you fight for me?

Would you take me for granted?

Do you have a scar for me?

To guide you to me when you’re stranded

We as humans tend to forget

Victories should never come cheap

I’ve lost some of me to find you

You’ll never smile until you weep

Am I your mountain?

The epiphany of blood, sweat and tears

Am I truly worth it?

Standing up to all that you love and fear?

Because you are my purpose

You are the only fate I choose

The leap of faith I take blindly

Having you is having something to lose

Filed under: English Poems

Wonderful Illusion

Bassem — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:01 +0000

I run to you

You turn out to be a mirage

I stare in confusion

Were you ever true?

Did I make you up?

Are you a wonderful illusion?

I touch your hand

There is no warmth

Just static electricity

I think I understand

You are physically gone

But within me you live for eternity

I kiss your lips

You vanish into thin air

Another daydream

I kiss your fingertips

You stay a second longer

You know how much that means

Are you a ghost?

Is this your restless soul?

Is it comfort you seek?

Do you feel lost?

Come sit by me

There is peace in words we don’t speak

I can feel you around me

I foolishly promise you

Everything is going to be fine

You have found me

You are never forgotten

My heart will always be your shrine

Filed under: English Poems

Insomnia

Bassem — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:20:21 +0000

Sleep has been evading me

Lying on a strange bed in a strange room

The pillows are persuading me

But there’s no comfort here without you

I restlessly toss and turn

My mind is perceiving the bed as steel

With nails and fire, it pricks and burns

Your distance arouses the insomniac in me

I have been studying the ceiling

And I imagine seeing your beautiful face

Are you peacefully sleeping?

Or are you awake feeling lost and displaced?

I don’t smell you in the sheets

This generic softener doesn’t remind me of home

Wherever I can feel your heartbeats

Is where I want to be, is where I belong

The hours are slowly passing by

And sunrays are shyly sneaking through the window

But they don’ reflect on your eyes

It’s just another morning without your morning glow

P.S. I miss you

Filed under: English Poems

Secret

Bassem — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 02:48:42 +0000

Please accept this overpriced coffee

Take your time. Smell it and drink it slowly

Enjoy the ambiance and my company today

Who knows if tomorrow we’d cross pathways

Tell me a secret that no one else knows

Allow me a glimpse into your inner soul

Share a dark tear or a broken smile

Make these five minutes worth the while

Feel the liberty in sharing truths with a stranger

Resist the hesitation and insensible sense of danger

What is it that defines who you are?

What is it that keeps you together and cuts you apart?

Believe me it was not my intention to see your tears

But I can’t say I’m not glad that I was here

Let’s talk about the weather and other trivial subjects

Let’s ignore disappointments and deep regrets

I love your nervous slightly embarrassed laugh

How do you feel letting go of what you had?

It’s running safely in my bloodstream

A piece of you shall forever remain within me

Forget your job, your family and friends

This is a moment that shall last after it ends

Could I interest you in a secret of mine?

There was once this time…

Filed under: English Poems

The End

Bassem — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:59:23 +0000

I can see the flames turning into dust

The morning that did not last quite enough

The memories turning into undesirable rust

Of something that once resembled love

The bittersweet taste of finales lingers

The salty tears that resonate regrets

Like missing an amputated finger

You know it’s not there yet you always forget

You keep seeing flashbacks in your head

Life seems much more beautiful in hindsight

We obliterate the bad and think of good instead

In the darkness, you always visualize light

Meaningless words that are politely exchanged

Of weather and other trivial subjects

Of promises we won’t keep when we’re estranged

Of emotions comparable to those of inanimate objects

Plans crumbling down like a Lego tower

Pathways leading into uncharted territories

Seconds weigh down on us like hours

As we realize we came to the end of our story

Filed under: English Poems

In New York

Bassem — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:24:53 +0000

In the snow covered streets of New York
In the glass walls of Manhattan’s skyscrapers
In the ceiling of my 1st Avenue apartment
In the faces of everyday random strangers
I see you

In the loud cheers of the Knicks fans
In the quiet whisper of couples in Central Park
In the indistinct sounds of casual conversations
In the silence of my lonely room after dark
I hear you

In the freezing cold of the night
In the warmth of an unexpected sunny day
In the excitement of mothers with their newborns
In the accidental touch of strangers passing my way
I feel you

In the heartache I feel seeing happy couples
In the solitude I feel wandering the neighbourhood
In the only joy I feel when I talk to you late at night
Without you, nothing tastes, sounds or looks as good
I miss you

Posted in English Poems

An English Poetry Book

Bassem — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:57:58 +0000

Naturally, like any aspiring writer, I always dreamed of publishing my work. ( Layla ) was my first attempt at publishing a novel but it proved to be more difficult than I have ever imagined. Of course my second novel ( Hope ) is still a working progress that is temporarily halted due to lack of time and inspiration.

Most of you know that I also write poems, both in Arabic and English. I always pictured myself publishing these poems in a book one day once I have enough of what I consider worthy of publishing.

Sometimes I entertained the idea of publishing a book that is a collection of poems written by the many young talented Saudi writers scattered all over the kingdom. I’m an avid reader of other people’s works whether printed and published or simply shared online through the various outlets available in the cyber world. Every once in a while I read something that makes me think to myself, it would be a shame if this piece wasn’t published so that more people can enjoy it and so that this writer gets his or her proper exposure.

When I shared this idea with a talented friend of mine, Hasan Eid, he was very enthusiastic about it, perhaps more than I ever was. After talking and discussing our options, we finally decided to go through with it.

It’s still an idea. We don’t know what’s going to happen exactly yet or if it’s ever going to see the day of light but we’re hopeful. For now, we thought it would be best if we started by making a rough draft of what we want to publish.

Basically, this book will contain Hasan’s and my poems in addition to various poems by anyone whom we see fit. If you want to be a part of this dream, please go to our group called Saudi Writers on Facebook and post 1-5 poems of your work in English in the discussion post titled Poetry for The Book. In a couple of months from now, Hasan and I will choose the best ones, contact their creators, and officially tell them that their poems have been selected.

This is our chance to do something that will make us all proud. Our talents should not be secluded in certain forums or websites. Let us show the world that we can write!

Saudi Writers Group

Posted in English Poems

Zombie

Bassem — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:31:37 +0000

I close my eyes and I think just before I sleep

Wouldn’t be wonderful to be someone else?

To know what it’s like to be able to breathe

Without having to despise myself

I contemplate suicide for the hundredth time

But it’s too selfish of an act to execute

I can’t control the thoughts in my mind

So I resort to what makes me feel better, self abuse

I imagine myself dead in a car crash

The pictures in my head give me some relief

They’re like stains that cannot be washed

Monsters in my head that refuse to leave

I break the mirror with my bare fist

The pain and blood bring me back to life

I smile and I think of slitting open my wrist

Unconsciously I run and grab the sharpest knife

But I know that I probably won’t succeed

I’m too much of a coward to go though with it

So I make a small cut and watch myself bleed

Maybe I won’t feel like a zombie if only for a minute

Posted in English Poems

Black Coffee

Bassem — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:17:13 +0000

I drink my coffee in the morning
Black and bitter like everything else in my life is
Outside my window, rain is pouring
Raindrops are salty tears I’m too familiar with

I stand naked underneath the shower
Everyday I pray I will finally feel unstained and clean
But there’s simply not enough water
To wash away the blood, tears, memories and all that’s between

I hold my breath for as long as I can
Am I strong enough to fight my instinct to survive?
I breathe in against my will and I don’t understand
How can one be not dead but far away from being alive?