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The Poetry of Nesreen Melek
Nesreen Melek is a regular contributor to Axis of Logic. Nesreen is an Iraqi woman, a mother and poet, who lives in Canada but with an abiding love and devotion to her homeland, Iraq. It is very easy for us to become caught up in our busy-ness, working to end a war in a land we have never seen. Nesreen brings us back to the realities of why we protest, organize, write and publish. When we begin thinking of war as some sort of drama being acted out in a land we have never seen, Nesreen reminds us of the children, mothers and fathers. She reminds us of the terrible details of what the U.S. has wrought in the war on the people of Iraq ... the lost child trying to find a familiar face, the shocked mother, staggering aimlessly down a cratered street ... the father, staring in disbelief at the body of his child in the back of a pickup truck, the poisoning of Iraqi soil with depleted uranium, the massive destruction on Iraq's infrastructure and economy. Nesreen can be contacted at: n_melek@hotmail.com

  • There is no place like home
    Nesreen Melek, Iraqi Poet. Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    There is no place like home My daughter is sleeping on my lap Her black braids are thick and tied with white ribbons Her skin is soft, her eyes are big, and her nose is small Her mouth is full with words need to be said She closed her beautiful... » read this article
  • My Christmas and New Year Present
    Nesreen Melek. Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    I will place a note in the box expressing my gratitude to all of you for helping me pass through the hard times since my country was invaded. I will wrap the box with white ribbons, the color of peace, and will remember a special friend who keeps telling me... » read this article
  • "Wattan" in Beijing and Baghdad
    Nesreen Melek* Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    Editor's Note: We received the following letter from Nesreen Melek, a frequent guest writer and poet for Axis of Logic. Nesreen wrote it during her current visit in China. In her letter, she compares her experiences in Beijing with that of her last visit to Baghdad, her "Wattan"*. - LMB Dear Les, I went... » read this article
  • The silence of the souqs
    Nesreen Melek. Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    The Americans pulled their troops from Baghdad and other cities but they will be staying in their Iraqi bases watching the cities of Iraq which they left behind. The congress approved more funding for military construction inside Iraq but there was no funding to rebuild the country the American government... » read this article
  • Nowruz and Mother's Day
    Nesreen Melek. Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    Six years ago I was sitting on the same couch watching their shock and 'owe' bombing on my beloved country. I asked myself what anology they would use for Baghdad and other cities this time.  In the early nineties, a CNN reporter covering the Gulf war reported that Baghdad looked... » read this article
  • Returning to Baghdad, 30 years later
    Nesreen Melek*, Iraqi Poet. Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    Editor's Note: Our dear friend and poet, Nesreen Melek, returned to visit her country, Iraq, after 30 years. She sends us her lamentations for her country and her people who have been changed forever. - LMB Dear Friends at Axis of Logic, I left Baghdad the day before yesterday. I stayed... » read this article
  • Who is Muntadhar al-Zaidi? "the longed for ... the awaited for"
    Sami Ramadani , The Guardian

    Editor's Note: We received this note from an Axis of Logic reader today about our friend and hero, quoting from the article below: "The reality is that Muntadhar is a secular socialist whose hero happens to be Che Guevara. He became a prominent leftwing student leader immediately after the occupation,... » read this article
  • The Walls
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    The invaders built walls to separate Iraqis But Iraqis decided to draw paintings on these walls, Iraqis drew rivers like the ones they had before the invaders contaminated it They drew palm trees full of dates like the ones which were scattered on the fertile soil before the brutal invasion... » read this article
  • "Why did I do it.. why ... why..."
    Nesreen Melek, Iraqi Poet , Axis of Logic

    I want to sit on Dijlah's shore at night Get a wooden stick and place a white candle on it I will light the candle, will look at the sky and make a wish I wish the past would vanish that moment I wish to live the good days again... » read this article
  • Our Children and Yours - a poem by Nesreen Melek
    Nesreen Melek*, Axis of Logic , Axis of Logic

    Our Children and Yours   Arab children are killed every day in the name of democracy They have no names They don't deserve to live They are faceless Their death is not acknowledged Their dreams are worthless Their families shouldn't mourn their deaths They don't deserve to be remembered  ... » read this article
  • The Birth Pangs of a New Middle East (A Poem)
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    The Birth Pangs of a New Middle East The world is witnessing "the birth pangs of a new Middle East" Yet Abeer's voice will be heard "I was fifteen when the American soldiers took turns and raped me." "They burned my body, shot my parents to cover up their acts."... » read this article
  • Belated Mother's Day
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Belated Mother's Day My mother was sitting in her favorite place The main door was ajar I pushed the door and went inside I heard my mother arguing with the gardener He planted the roses in a spot he had chosen My mother wanted him to plant it somewhere else... » read this article
  • Three years and three bodies
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Three years and three bodies  Three years of war and bloodshed Three bodies were wrapped in blankets They were in the back of a pickup truck The face of one child was facing the sky The other child spread his arm to reach his sister And the third lay on... » read this article
  • Just like the Iraqi mother
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Just like the Iraqi mother You've lost your son and will not celebrate Christmas this year with him, just like the Iraqi mother You wanted him to grow, get married, and have children, just like the Iraqi mother You wanted to tell him how much you love him, how much... » read this article
  • Between Two Countries
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Between Two Countries Winds and tides of water were pushing everything Homes were demolished People lost their homes Pictures, books, and memories were left behind Families were split apart Stores were looted Gun fires were heard Sewage was covering the streets Chaos and disaster Deceased were left on the streets for... » read this article
  • The Anniversary
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    The Anniversary Two years passed Was it yesterday when I witnessed the loss of my country? No country to go back to Dreams will not come true Two years passed Was it yesterday when we witnessed the torture and the rape? The horror will stay in our memory We will... » read this article
  • Riding with Bach
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Riding with Bach In the midst of the ugliness of the world He is driving his car and listening to a Bach CD Thinks about the friend whom he never met and never will He drives around Birds are waiting to be fed Errands have to be finished He looks from... » read this article
  • Merry Christmas America
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Merry Christmas America Bells are ringing here Bombs are falling there  Red ribbons are tied to everything here White sheets are covering dead bodies there Christmas trees are sold everywhere here Palm trees are raising high and are burned there Present boxes are wrapped with different colours here Empty boxes... » read this article
  • To My American Friend with Love
    Nesreen Melek , Axis of Logic

    Editor's Note:  Nesreen Melek is an Iraqi woman, currently living in Canada.  Her generosity and compassion can be seen in her words below.  Would that all Americans had her capacity to recognize that we are all one people, Iraqi, American and from every other country - that we all suffer when any one... » read this article
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