“When You Love a Storm” – Debut Book Launch

“When you love storm, remember,
You never lose even though you’re bruised.
You find yourself and your freedom,
and that’s a good thing.”





Crowdfunding To Help A Friend Produce Her First Song


Contribution Link: https://igg.me/at/song-fundraiser/x/15930173

The fundraising is for a friend, Shahd Syoufi, who is an extremely talented and fiercely passionate musician. Shahd comes from the city of Homs in Syria. Presently, she lives in Germany where her family moved in back in 2013, given the situation in Syria, because of the civil war.

“I have dreamed of becoming a singer since the day I learned to talk, maybe even before that”, she would say when asked about her passion for music.

As a kid, she was encouraged to pursue her passion for singing where she used to perform at school functions and sometimes at family gatherings. But coming from a society where music, dance and other such art forms are mostly frowned upon when pursued by women, she lost the support from her family when she came of age.

But, things changed (mostly for good) when she moved to Germany where she is more free from the boundaries of a restrictive society. She is twenty-three and studying at the University of Stuttgart. She is a fierce advocate for women’s rights especially in the Arabic world and wishes to inspire women to pursue their passions and dreams and fight the restrictions of the society they live in.

Currently, she is working on her first song and she wishes to produce it by the mid of this year. The song will be in Arabic, and will urge women to think about their lives and think freely. But, being a student, and trying to live independently without depending on her parents for finances, while facing criticism from her community, she needs our help.

I am trying to raise funds to help her with the logistical expenses of producing the song. If you are willing to contribute (any amount) please do not hesitate to contact me for any details.

Here are a few of her singing videos –



They broke her, piece by piece, and she let them, until there was nothing left to be shattered. The shards of what was left became her reality. She had lost her identity. She didn’t want to be saved, because there was nothing left to be salvaged. Her only hope was time, that held the power to erode all her memories, and set her free. But every time an attempt was made she would shut herself up and hold all her memories tight against her chest; a protective mother holding her children when she senses a threat. She would rather perish than let anything happen to them and that was her fate in the end.



Photo Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/love%20hug

How would it feel?
To submit yourself to another
Completely powerless,
absolutely defenseless
No questions, no answers,
trust so deeply rooted
Buried within her bosom
you feel your senses
giving away the faces
of fear and doubts

The avalanche of emotions
raining through your eyes
it races, leaving traces;
A force so strong,
your will barely embraces
You have suffered
You were broken
not a word ever spoken
You have waited
seeking strength in patience
You have burnt,
You have frozen

But now you stay protected
Safe in her bosom
peacefully rested
Her arms around you
They will help you through
You can let go now
Submit yourself to the other
until the flowers of the sun wither
You hold onto her,