No Black Ribbons.



Black ribbons are to commemorate the Dead...And what if someone never dies, what colors would one use ?

I went through my collection of Iraqi Art - the breath of life, the pulse that still beats, and tells us that we are still alive and I chose Green.

Evergreen, an everlasting Green...The color of Life, Hope, clarity of Vision, Fortitude, immense, subhuman Courage ...the color of the Heart... in the Arab - Muslim tradition...

And Green is what I offer You - tonight, today...and everyday...

As Green as the Southern fields carrying the fruits of dedicated labor,
As Green as the Northern mountains, in Spring,
As Green as the grass that prostrates at Dawn.
As Green as a Palm tree that never bends...

What better color than Green, to humbly offer You, tonight, today and everyday...

Green the color of an Eternal Spring, the color of Hope...The color of Life.

Some die by accident, some from disease, some from old age and some die of Love...

Others call it - a cause, a vision, a commitment, a calling, a sacrifice...I call it Love. And am sure You will agree...

To die of Love for Her...and to remain Alive in the process...is the greatest of all Accomplishments.

No one matched You, nor will match You -- in the ultimate Death, in the ultimate Sacrifice, in the ultimate Love and in the ultimate everlasting Life, an alive Presence...as Green as the Palm tree that never, ever, bends...

Layla Anwar
30th December 2008



Nota Bene : Comments for this post have been disabled. And I still can't understand how can anyone not love Charles Aznavour, "entre autres"...


Painting : Iraqi artist, Ahmad Al-Karkhee.

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