Discriminate not!

February 24, 2022 by Yousuf Bawany

Why can’t you see
What I can be?
Why let your eyes
Dishonor me?

Don’t let my skin
Dictate my fate
My ugliness
Turn into hate

My accent may
Not be as good
I may not speak
The way I should

Your red passport
May reign supreme
My dark green book
In low esteem

In looks alone
We may not match
But hold that thought
There is a catch

Come close to me
And hear my heart
Could beats alone
Tell us apart?

The pain we feel
When love is lost
Discriminates?
No, it does not!

When fires burn
And ashes blow
The pungent smell
Don’t we well know?

The anguished wails
Of orphaned kids
You hear them too
With wet eyelids

When you bite on
Your tongue in haste
Do you not sense
The metal taste?

So why do you
Build up this wall
Why then, my friend
Make me feel small

Just look beyond
My darkened skin
And see the light
That shines within

When all is done
We are the same
There is no guilt
There is no shame

My nights like yours
Are filled with dreams
Of catching stars
And chasing streams

With this new thought
Let go, be free
And see me for
What I can be!

– Yousuf Bawany, Feb 2022

Weekly Photo Challenge: Resilient

January 2, 2017 by Yousuf Bawany

Age isn’t just a number; it’s a reflection of the hardships we’ve faced, the laughs we’ve shared, the times we’ve fallen, the tears we’ve shed. In essence, it is a true measure of one’s resilience.

Life is an obstacle course, a test of endurance, if you may; it has its highs and lows, twists and turns. Each day brings with it new battles to fight and new reasons to celebrate, a roller coaster of surprises both good and bad; every passing year makes you more resilient.

This photo is an homage to life in all its glory.

Point and Shoot

July 24, 2014 by Yousuf Bawany

Liebster Blog Award

January 2, 2013 by Yousuf Bawany

Viv over at Viv’s View nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award sometime last year, but some pressing commitments prevented me from accepting this award until now. A big thank you to Viv for bestowing this honor upon me.

With accepting the award there are certain rules to be followed:

Thank the person who nominated you
Answer the following 11 questions
Nominate 11 bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award and let them know they have been nominated

So without further ado, here are the answers to the questions:

1. The book that changed your life: A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This book taught me to never stop dreaming, no matter how difficult life may seem; God always has something good in store for us.

2. Your favorite author/writer: Enid Blyton

Growing up, I read a lot of Enid’s books and they really helped me survive a lot of tough times. I still have The Adventures of the Wishing Chair at my bedside.

Some may call these books childish, but honestly, this is where true creativity lies.

3. Your pet and its name: N/A

I don’t have any pets

4. The craziest thing you have done: Walked into a girl’s bathroom on a dare

Thankfully, it was deserted.

5. Your best friend: My wife

She’s my heart, my soul, my everything.

6. A childhood prank: Blaming my brother for something I had done

Every time my brother and I remember these incidents (I choose not to reveal these here as they are REALLY embarrassing), I beg for his for forgiveness; he’ll probably consider forgiving me by the end of 2013.

7. Favourite musician: N/A

I don’t listen to music.

8. A place you would love to visit: Lima, Peru

Ever since I saw this beautiful photo of some ruins taken from a mountain-top, I have dreamed of going there. I love walking down paths that people long before me used to tread along.

9. If you had just 5 minutes left to live what is the one thing you would do?

Minute 1: I’d tell my family not to worry too much and keep living life to the fullest.
Minute 2: I’d give all my passwords to my wife and tell her to inform all my friends about me imminent death.
Minutes 3 and 4: I’d spend these minutes with my children and ask them to be brave.
Minutes 5: Ask Allah for repentance and a place in the heavens; I don’t want to rot in hell for eternity.

10. Favorite sport: Badminton

Even though I haven’t played this sport in ages, I’d love to take it up again someday soon; God knows I desperately need the exercise.

11. How do you define love?

In my experience with love, I have come to realize one thing;

Love has the tendency to get you into trouble; PERIOD.

And now, some people I’d like to nominate for this award. All the bloggers mentioned here are truly amazing people and this award is a meager token of appreciation for all their contributions to the blogosphere. I love you all.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Green

November 19, 2012 by Yousuf Bawany

Even though I love doing all the weekly photo challenges, I particularly like the ones where you are SUPPOSED to post a gallery instead of a single entry; something about me being able to express my chaotic self in a better way.

Coming back to this week’s theme, Green. We are hard-wired to respond to this color; after all, it is all around us and kinda hard to miss. From the rain forests to the oceans, vegetables to fruits, I associate green with nature, with tranquility, with divinity.

So without further ado, here’s my humble submission for this week’s theme. Hope you enjoy it.