© Lozan Yamolky
She is small and frail,
but there’s a spark in her eyes.
She is young and oh, so shy,
but there’s a determination in her gaze.
She is short and thin,
but you get the sense
you are in the presence
of a memorable girl.
She is unable to speak,
but she can hear.
She understands,
but not your spoken words.
She understands your tone,
your gesture
and the movement of your eyes.
Don’t underestimate her.
Don’t dismiss her.
Don’t you dare think less of her
because she is small
and cannot speak or walk well.
She cannot speak
but knows!
You can feel it in your gut,
she knows.
So, tread lightly,
speak politely,
be genuine
and if you can’t,
then just keep moving.
She stood up.
You could hear a pin drop.
Everybody held their breath
fearing she would fall.
She is still standing up
slowly… gracefully… cautiously.
Oh my, she’s moving in slow motion.
As gentle as a butterfly walking on your finger,
she walked on that hardwood floor.
One small step after another
then suddenly,
a ray of sunlight penetrated the sunroof exposing the dusty hardwood floor she walked on.
It takes the breath away; as we realized that we are out here living on this earth
existing as if this planet owe us something and nothing is good enough; we stomp, we complain and we are unsatisfied.
We wipe forests,
eradicate species,
and factory farm animals for one reason alone.
We pollute our waters,
contaminate our soil
and even poison the air we breathe,
while she in her pain walks
without harming anyone
or –anything;
not even disturbing
the dust beneath her feet.
© Lozan Yamolky
From debut book of poetry: I’m No Hero
by: Silver Bow Publishing 2016
Disclaimer: Photo from Facebook page: Evolver Social Movement
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Published by Lozan Yamolky
First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge that I humbly live on the traditional, unceeded territories of the səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) & xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Thank you for allowing me to live on your land —Vancouver, BC Canada.
I am a Canadian citizen who migrated from Kurdistan —Present day Northern Iraq, in 1995 after spending over a year as an asylum seeker in Turkey.
I was born and raised in Baghdad in 1972, I am the fifth of eleven children; three boys and seven girls –one brother passed away in infancy.
I am the author of ( I’m No Hero) and ( Counting Waves ) published by: Silver Bow Publishing. I am dedicating my third book of poems ( Dreamers Needed ) to my teenage boys, Trey, 15 and Wyatt, 13.
I started reciting my poems for the first time in 2013 at The Holy Wow Poets Canada in Maple Ridge. I am currently a member of the Canadian Authors Association, Federation of BC Writers, The Royal City Literary Art Society and the Holy Wow Poets Canada. I am presently the secretary of the Royal City Literary Arts Society. I work as a freelance interpreter.
I was commissioned in the fall of 2017 to write a poem about the refugee experience to DaCapo Chamber Choir in Toronto. The event will feature my poem “I am here” in spring 2019.
I was one of the recipients of the 2018 Distinguished Poet Award from WIN– Writers International Network Canada and was 3rd place winner at the 2018 Tagore Festival Peace Poems contest. Since first sharing my poetry in 2013, I have featured in numerous poetry events throughout the Greater Vancouver area.
My work has been published in The Royal City Poets Anthologies (Silver Bow Publishing), The Royal City Literary Arts Society online magazine eZine, Wordplay at Work, Creative Quills Ink Verse (North Vancouver), Celebrate Canada 150 and Culture Days From Far and Wide (Multicultural Creative Writing Collection 2017) and the 2018 Holy Wow Poets Anthology (Maple Ridge).
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Lozan Yamolky 