My Dream "Free Palestine"

Palestine is a living crisis of humanity where millions of Palestinians living in exile or in illegal Zionist state of Israel are a living proof the statement. The writers and poets are continuously recording everyday life of Palestinians in the world. The tale of people living in refugee camps particularly is heartbreaking. This write up is about a Poem by Palestinian (Gaza) writer, poet & scholar - Mosab Abu Toha.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of ALLAH, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

My Dream "Free Palestine"

A "Free Palestine" is a profound and globally shared dream for dignity, self-determination, and fundamental human rights. It envisions a secure future where Palestinians can live in peace, free from occupation, and rebuild their communities with sovereignty and justice.

The Palestinian dream is so simple "the right to establish a fully independent state", govern their own lands, and enjoy full civil and political rights. The basic need of the time will always be an end to systemic violence, blockades, and displacement, allowing people to live without the threat of conflict. Then there shall be continuous rebuilding of essential infrastructure like homes, hospitals, and schools.

In the following let's read a poem "Memorize Your Dream" By Mosab Abu Toha; a Palestinian (Gaza) writer, poet & scholar, paired with a watercolour by artist/activist Dylan McGarry.

"Memorize Your Dream" By Mosab Abu Toha

Close your eyes

and

walk on the ocean.

Dabble your hands

in the water

and

catch your poem’s words.

Write the words up on

the clouds.

Don’t worry, they will find

their land.

Open your eyes.

In the night,

the sea is no longer blue.

Look around and from

the descending

raindrops

pick your punctuation marks.

Put on your swimsuit,

dive deep down

and look for a title

for your epic.

Embark on your

moving homeland—

your boat.

Go to your bed

and, in your sleep,

begin to memorize

your dream.

Short Explanation of Poem

The poet inviting to close eyes and having the feeling of walking on ocean. There is a famous poem "Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket; which explores fleeting moments of peace and the human struggle to hold onto youthful wonder. The line reflects on a temporary escape to a utopian place. The memories of the ocean (the water surface, tides, waves, currents) provide emotional sustenance to all ages.

Dabbling hands on water refers to the simple, casual action of dipping your hands into a body of water and gently moving them around ; which may result in a musical sound. That may be an inspiration for a poem's lyrical rhythm.

"Write on the clouds and words will find eager ears on land". This poetic sentiment speaks to the power of shared ideas. When you release your thoughts or dreams, they transcend physical borders and find resonance with receptive minds across the globe.

"In the night, the sea is no longer blue". It evokes how darkness alters reality and perception, transforming familiar, daytime landscapes into something mysterious, unfamiliar, and open to interpretation.

"From the descending raindrops, pick punctuation marks". The line suggests to be as beautiful in preparing the text with finer punctuations as the drop of waters fall in rain.

"Dive deep in ocean to find a title for epic writing". Diving into the ocean to find lost treasures and jewels is a thrilling pursuit. The poet is recommending a deep thought process to dig out a resounding title of the writing.

The phrase "moving homeland" in the context of a "boat" typically refers to the migratory journey of displaced populations, refugees, or asylum seekers traveling over water. In literature, it is often a metaphor for a boat acting as a temporary sanctuary or a floating community for people forced to leave their country of origin. It highlights the dangerous journeys for the migrants seeking safety, where the vessel itself becomes their entire world and their only link to survival.

"In sleep, dream and memorize them". The last line is suggesting the hard life in Gaza; therefore the poet is recommending to sleep and dream and then arise with those dreams. His dreams have been explained in above lines; which is nothing but " Free Palestine" his homeland; so that he may fulfill his ambitions in life, scattered all over in nature.

Palestine shall be Free from River to the Sea

"Memorize Your Dream" is a surreal, hopeful poem by Palestinian author Mosab Abu Toha, published in his award-winning 2022 collection, "Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza".The poem guides the reader into a dreamscape where imagination overcomes harsh realities. It asks them to "Walk on the ocean to catch words, write them on the clouds, and use raindrops for punctuation.Dive Deep: Swim through the night sea to find a title for their "epic".

The poem concludes with an instruction to take a boat (a "moving homeland") and, as sleep approaches, fiercely memorize the dream. Critics often highlight this piece as an example of how Abu Toha uses lyrical, imaginative imagery to preserve a sense of life, creativity, and resilience amidst the ongoing hardships in Gaza.