This is a musical version of a poem written by Shams Mazen Rajab, whose name means “Sun” in English. Shams is a Gaza-based translator, writer, and English teacher, and also teaches the Arabic language to non-native speakers. She is also a student in the (ELT Professionals for Palestine) English tutoring project. I shared Shams’ first poem, Sun of Hope, on my blog. The post also includes music I created based on her poem.

In Gaza’s breeze, the jasmine sways, the sea reflects the golden rays. Children laugh beneath the sun, a land of dreams, for everyone.

But then a monster crossed the skies, with roaring flames and endless cries. It stole the light, destroyed the land, with fire and fear in every hand.

The streets once danced with songs and light, now echoes silence every night. Homes are dust, dreams turned to flame, yet still, the soul remains the same.

From under rubble, hope still grows, like flowers fighting through the blows. We write, we dream, we rise again, Defying death, enduring pain.

Gaza still sings beneath the scars, its voice as bright as hidden stars. They tried to silence every beat, but Gaza’s heart will not retreat.

Version 1

Version 2

Please consider making a donation to Shams’ GoFundMe campaign.