Fady Joudah is a Palestinian-American poet, translator, and physician known for his profound work in poetry and literary translation. Joudah has contributed to global health efforts, working as a field member of Doctors Without Borders, dedicated to humanitarian efforts bringing medical care to those in need. He was born in Austin, Texas. The son of Palestinian refugees he grew up in Libya and Saudi Arabia and returned to Georgia and Texas for his college education and medical training. I found this short poem below, very moving. Also, please use the link to a recording of his poem Dedication presented at Rice University. This poem is a long list of dedication to those who suffered and are suffering in Gaza and the West Bank. Handle both these poems with care, like the lives they describe, they are fragile. Pause, Ponder, and Pray.
My daughter
wouldn’t hurt a spider
That had nested
Between her bicycle handles
For two weeks
She waited
Until it left of its own accord
If you tear down the web I said
It will simply know
This isn’t a place to call home
And you’d get to go biking
She said that’s how others
Become refugees isn’t it? Fady Joudah
Prayer:
Lord God, of all
people,
young and old, small and tall.
Lord God, of all
goodness and love
hear our prayer
of thanksgiving and petition.
Those of us who have a place
to call
home,
thank you.
Hear our petition on behalf
of those who have been
denied
their home
who have been
removed
from their home
who are
prevented
from
returning
to a place on earth to call
home.
Lord God of all peoples, break through
our brokenness.
Lord God of
Light,
dispel our preference for
Darkness.
Lord God, welcome us all and might
we welcome one another. Amen.
Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings 