Time to Migrate Under The Skin ©

Time to Migrate Under The Skin

by Dahlia Ibrahim

There comes a season
when even the strongest traveler
must walk alone
not by choice,
but by the quiet betrayals
of those closest to his fire.

He watches hardship bloom
in the very hands
that once held him,
feels the sting of estrangement
from faces he once called home.
Their misunderstandings
cut deeper than any blade,
for they strike
without knowing they strike at all.

He moves through the world
like a shadow carrying its own cage,
a wanderer trapped
in the narrow corridors of his chest.
Every step is a negotiation
between endurance and collapse,
between what he longs to say
and what he must swallow whole.

The greatest torture
is not the journey itself
but the silence.
The way his tongue burns
with unshed truths,
the way his heart aches
with stories that cannot be spoken.

He cannot reveal
the weight he drags behind his ribs,
cannot name the wounds
that bloom in secret places.
To speak would be to shatter,
to unravel,
to expose a tenderness
the world has never earned.

So he migrates inward,
slipping beneath his own skin
like a fugitive seeking refuge.
He learns to travel
through hidden chambers,
to carry his pain
in the quiet folds of his being.

This is the exile
no one sees:
the long migration
from the surface of life
to the dim, sacred interior
where truth must live unspoken.

And still he walks
a lone traveler
with a universe of ache
pressed tightly against his bones,
moving forward
not because he is free,
but because even captivity
has its own kind of gravity.

And yet,
even in this quiet exile beneath the skin,
a small, stubborn light refuses to die.
It flickers in the hidden chambers,
whispering that no night is endless,
no wound is final,
no heart is beyond repair.

Strength grows in the places
where words cannot reach.
It gathers in the silence,
in the breath you steady,
in the steps you take
even when the road feels merciless.

Hope is not loud,
it is the soft pulse that keeps you moving,
the unseen hand that lifts your chin
when the world feels too heavy.
It is the promise
that every buried ache
will one day bloom into wisdom,
and every closed door
will teach you how to build your own.

You are not defined
by the hurt you cannot speak,
but by the courage
to carry it with grace
until the day you can finally lay it down.

And that day will come
as surely as dawn follows the longest night,
as surely as the heart remembers
how to rise again
after every fall.

©gainperspectiveblog.wordpress.com/DahliaIbrahim/2026





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© Atonement

© Atonement

A poem by Dahlia Ibrahim

From Mothers To Their Children

My beloved ones,
If you ever wonder how I carried
the weight of days that bent my back
or the nights that stole my sleep,
know this:

I walked through every test
with my palms open to the sky,
trusting that Allah sees
what the heart endures in silence.

I learned to live in a state of atonement
not from shame,
but from longing.
A longing to return to Him
with a heart washed clean,
with a soul that tried,
again and again,
to rise after every fall.

Hardships came like uninvited guests,
sorrow sat beside me,
and trials pressed against my ribs
but I made peace with them.
For they were not punishments,
but pathways.
Each one a door
leading me closer to the One
who never leaves.

My children,
if you remember anything of me,
remember this:

I chose patience
even when my voice trembled.
I chose gratitude
even when my eyes burned with tears.
I chose to forgive
so Allah might forgive me.
I chose to hope
so despair would never own my heart.

And I pray
oh, how I pray
that when my journey ends
and I stand before my Lord,
He will find me in full submission,
my hands empty of this world,
my heart full of love for Him.

May He cloak me in His mercy,
accept my striving,
and grant me Jannah
not for perfection,
but for sincerity.

And for you, my children,
I ask Allah for a softer path
that your burdens come light,
your tests never break you,
and the weight you carry
is shaped to your strength,
never beyond it.
May ease meet you often,
and may mercy follow you
like a loyal companion.
Walk your own paths
with gentleness, courage, and tawakkul,
knowing that every hardship
is a bridge,
and every tear
is a seed of light
in the gardens of the Hereafter.

Dahlia Ibrahim ©gainperspectiveblog.wordpress.com

1/30/2026

The Quiet Pact

We were forged in the hush

of her mourning, a widowed mother with

hands like prayer, soft, but never trembling.

She taught us to walk with our heads high,

to carry our own shadows and never ask for

light.

So we grew like oak trees in separate

fields, each rooted in her strength,

each proud of our branches,

each afraid to lean.

We speak in kindness, in the

language of “I’m fine,” in the

silence between “I miss you” and

“I need you.” We love like stars,

bright, distant, never touching.

She watches us with eyes that know,

but do not ask. We return with gifts,

with laughter, with stories of triumph,

never tears. Because to cry

would be to unravel the myth

that strength means solitude,

that love must not weigh.

But tonight, in the stillness between calls,

we feel it, the ache of unshared

burdens, the irony of a bond so tight

it cannot bend.

And we wonder: what if strength was not silence?

What if love was not a gift we wrapped in distance?

What if the purpose was not to spare

each other, but to carry each other home?

By: Dahlia Ibrahim ©The Quiet Pact! @gainperspectiveblog.wordpress.com

The Mountain

View at snow capped mountains on a cloudy winter day. Time lapse.

As I was approaching

The highland, where the

Road to the Mountain

Starts; I saw the snow capped

Top first. The Mountain stood

There facing the blows of

The wind carving scars on

His face, and he seemed

patiently bearing the

Heavy burden of the

Falling snow over his

Head. I saw the erusion

That this burden made

On every crevice of

The rocks.

Yet, our Mountain stood

Tall and strong. Perhaps

For the deeply rooted

Faith, that the wind

Will evantually soften,

And the snow will

Melt by time.

©gainperspectiveblog12/1/2021

Then Hope Took Roots©

Under a rocky soil

A stubborn flower

Grew. Aiming for

The sun above,

It raised its head

And stood tall,

And looked strong.

Somewhere deep

underneath the surface,

There in the dark,

Hope was born.

Hope took roots

And lived to tell

A tale of triumph.

©gainperspectiveblog@wordpress.com7/7/2021

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/theodore_roethke_137366?src=t_roots

Distance Does Not Matter!©

Distance does not matter

To the sea, it does not matter

To the ocean, they still find

each other- waves of devotion

greet the shore.

Distance does not matter

to the river, it still delivers.

Distance does not matter

To the sun, it does not matter

To the moon- rays and beams

Full of warmth

When it shines bright and true.

Distance does not matter

To the heart that loves.

©Gainperspectiveblog2/1/2021

The Age of Darkness, the Age of Light-and the Sea.©

The Age of Darkness, the Age of Light-and the Sea.©

In the midst of the darkness of this long night… my heart is filled with uncertainty and my soul is restless.  Yearning and anticipation are taking me on a roller coaster ride.  It has been like this every night for as long as I can remember.  But this feeling is getting intensified lately.   I have learned to heed my intuition, and it never fails me.  Now, I feel like something is going to happen.  Never have we, as the people of this age, lived in such a contradiction since Charles Dickens wrote these words of wisdom:

” It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest seeing aies insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. ”  Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, Book the First, Chapter I.

It’s a time that we’re seeing all the evil of humanity awaken like vampires spreading through the land.  Those who want to divide us and take us back to the darkest of ages where a man was void of his human rights and measured by the color of his skin instead of the merits of his deeds and the substance of his character.

On the other side, never we have gotten together, unified under a sense of comradery , as this time, for humanity, civil rights, equality, freedom, kindness… all the best of humane traits, transcending race, religion, nationality, and all other bars and walls of division.

I found myself, this night, waiting for the dawn of day and yearning for the sea!  Such a great urge to be looking at my beloved Pacific Ocean on the Oregon Coast.  You, the reader, may wonder what is the relevance?!!  At times like this, when I am restless and filled with anxiety, I think of the sea.  He is my best friend.  The only being that can listen and understand.  The only friend on this beautiful and sad Earth who can fill me with hope in spite of pain and despair.  The sea is wise yet playful, vast enough to contain the world yet can be contained in my gaze and my heart, mighty yet gentle… and most importantly- the sea is a generator of hope.

Waves live all around the shores, living a life filled with stories; yet as soon as one wave reaches its final destination, resting at last in the shore’s embrace- a new wave will immediately be born in its wake, back to the sea, to live a new life, a brand new life of its own.  An endless story of life-infinite.

Yes, here I am, in the middle of the darkness of this restless night, I find myself yearning for the sea.  Dreaming to stand by its shores, where earth meets the sky, as if standing by the edge of humanity, at the age when we are tested and trialed if we, as the people, are deserving of it!

Oh,  here is a droplet on my face..a mist, a sea breeze.  I am refreshed and filled with hope.  ©2017Gainperspectiveblog

 

 

 

 

 

Aidan & the Kaleidoscope 2

Little Children coloring and making cards for Aidan and Ella-Full Time Islamic School

Aidan & The Kaleidoscope

Fellowship of Goodness

Somewhere in a valley in California, women from different faith groups, United Methodists, Catholics, Mormons, Jewish, and Muslims all got together to help each other in a very dynamic and unique fellowship-to spread love, care, and understanding in our communities.  The group cares for refugees, victims of cancer and their families, needy members of the community, widows and widowers group, make a wish for terminally ill seniors, and much more.  Every time we meet at the Interfaith meetings, or at the Kaleidoscope group, or to one of the sisters’ houses for shared dinner-there is enough love, compassion, and humanity to fill the whole world.

I am so proud to be one of them.  I pray that many communities around the nation and the whole world would  follow our example.

One of the projects was caring for Aidan and his little sister Ella.  He is a little boy undergoing a prolonged stay in the hospital for cancer treatment and needs a cheer.  We cannot forget about his little sister, lest she feels neglected.  I have asked you, my dear readers around the world in my last post to join in.

Aidan’s mom reported that Aidan was so happy receiving all those cards, and it really cheered him up and eased his agonizing long hospital stay.

Just because the world is full of chaos and perils, this doesn’t mean that goodness and cheerfulness cease to exist.  As long as we strive to be good and fair and just.. as long as we continue to seek the truth, as long as we believe in God and certain of His Justice and Compassion-Humanity is still good and there is still hope.

 

©Gainperspectiveblog2/24/2017

My Orange Tree!©

My Orange Tree!©

Souls, like plants, are revived by the sunlight and care.  I was feeling sick today and under the weather.  I thought of just calling off going to teach on Monday until I feel better.  Then I looked down from my bedroom window to my garden and saw these magnificent oranges and tangerines alluring me to just pick them up.

I thought of my students on Monday and how lovely it would be to share some of these fresh citrus blessings with them.  Suddenly I had this surge of energy and pulled myself out of bed and went down to the garden with a big bag to pick some fruits.

Instantly the fresh citrus scent revived my soul and rejuvenated my energy.  I felt much better instantly.  And then I peeled an orange and took a bite, heaven!

I thought how in the acts of giving that my orange tree had showed me-with it’s extended boughs laden with the gift of fruits to pick, enjoy, and share- now my aching limbs and tired heart had been energized and healed.  There is nothing like the act of giving and sharing to uplift the soul.  Don’t you all agree?

P.S. Those pictures I just took are as fresh as the fruits they show.  Beautiful California citrus…yummy!

©Gainperspectiveblog12/11/2016

A Remedy of Words!©

A Remedy of Words!©

The words are hammering

Humming loud and persisting

To be let out.  Hauling a heavy

Load of thoughts and feelings.

Say it right.  There is

Doubt?  Will they be misunderstood?

Will they sound appealing?

Come forth, say the truth.

Speak your mind, I say.

How else you would be heard?

Mind your words, say it gently.

Be kind.  Articulate and then,

Those wonderful words you

have carefully said, will be your healing.©

©Gainperspective10/29/2016

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