Dear Fellow Warrior,
The past seven weeks have been rough. At this moment of reflection, I wanted to share this poem I wrote and a painting I just made for Palestine, connected to the statement: “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free.”
What this phrase signifies is the lifting of the siege, occupation, and apartheid from an indigenous population. The peaceful resistance and fight for one’s freedom in their homeland does not in any way mean the cessation of the life, security, and freedom for another. And one’s peace, freedom, and prosperity cannot be sustained on the backs of the “othered” in chains.
Additionally, I seemed to be eating watermelon more often starting this summer. 🙂 Perhaps there was a premonition there. As many may recall, the sliced watermelon became a symbol for the Palestinian resistance and persistence, when Israel had a policy which banned the public portrayal of the Palestinian flag. As a result, Palestinians would carry watermelons because when sliced open, they have relatively the same colors of the flag: red, green, white, and black. The painting did not come out exactly as I envisioned, but it was cathartic and enjoyable to paint at this time, especially as it has been a while since I used the oil medium.
Please let me know what you think of the painting and the piece in the comments. I would love to hear your constructive feedback and thank you so much for reading!
In Solidarity, Peace, Warmth, and Blessings,
Your Sister, Dr. Elsa
Warrior KQueen
“She wasn’t looking for a Knight. She was looking for a Sword.” – Atticus
From the River to the Sea: Resistance Paints a Sweet Harmony
Along the corridors, whisper ancestral tales,
From the River to the Sea, a descendant’s hunger sails.
The beat of a young heart, strong and free,
Dreaming of liberation, a vision, a struggle, a plight, a decree.
A kingdom where watermelons grow,
Plant seeds of justice, a promise upon the river’s flow.
With shackles bound, an onerous affair,
The Palestinian screams, sweet harmonies in despair.
As the alizarin crimson inspires a purple sky,
Compressed beneath the rubble, hopes begin to dry.
Destruction illuminates stories untold,
Through Destitution and bloodshed, warmth transforms to cold.
Lost below the concrete, and above the mental games…
‘Prisoners of Conscience,’ break off the chains…
In the gray carnage, the resilient hues of red, green, black, and white…
Come together to ignite,
Caressing the dust, a tenacious, a vibrant light.
Sheathed with the Keffiyeh, solidarity gives birth,
An unbroken spirit to resist, to reclaim the child’s worth.
It is past time, for this plight for liberation,
Harmonizing voices intertwine… a zealous devotion.
From the Old Jerusalum city to the olive grove trees,
The spirit of Palestine remains, refusing to surrender…. to freeze.
Allow the river, allow the sea…
To reveal the truth… to cry this decree..
The healing power of water, threads the wails of hope,
As the sweet fruit blossoms a promise the soul to cope.
Amid the smoke-filled shadows of ruins and dust….
From the River to the Sea… a sweet harmony, we trust…
The formidable lioness roars a familiar reprise..
Triumphant through the gauntlet of infinite evil eyes…
From the witness of a crescent moon, embracing the tides…
Chants a newfound melody of peace, justice, and freedom, for Palestine’s everlasting rise.
*******
“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” – Nelson Mandela
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” – Mahatma Gandhi
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