State of being: Revolution

A poem from 2011, revisited.

Revolution

A constant state of being

Defiance, being

Igniting resistance

Revolting

Affirming existence

Against the tide

Pushing

Being one, uniting

Being a flood

Standing on a thin line

With all your being

Breaking divides

Screaming

Piercing muted minds

Being victorious

Then – defeated

Delayed, undeterred

Being

Stronger than most

Strident

Shaking the core of earth

Willed, willing to give

Everything

Kicking in the door

Crazy? Visionary

Galvanizing millions

Chanting, dismantling systems

Then – alone

Detained, determined

Solitary strength

Still being, solid

Freedom

A state of mind

Never silent

Never still

Contagious passion

Spreading

Gaining momentum, again

Riling up anger

Waking up, again

A new machine, camouflaged

Same technique, repeat

Revolt, constantly

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In late 2011, just months before the first anniversary of the January 25 uprising, when developments were not going in our favor, but we were still fighting strong, Alaa Abd El Fattah was detained under false pretenses. Under the rule of the army council, clashes between security forces and protesters left dozens more dead month after month, but we continued to press for the demands of the revolution. On October 30, weeks after the Maspero massacre, Alaa was jailed for “inciting violence against the military” on that horrific and tragic night. 

Sometimes it’s hard to express emotions in words, other times all you can do is write and let the words speak for you. I wrote and posted this poem on November 2, 2011 on a blog I update on a not-so-frequent basis. I sent a link to Alaa while he was imprisoned, but he only saw it months after his release in late December. When he finally replied, it was with a modest: “Thanks for trying to explain what I do to me.”

Today I revisit this piece of writing and still find truth in every word — despite not participating in any protests today, despite feeling like the revolution was taken away and feeling too helpless and fatigued to keep hoping.

As we commemorate the third anniversary of our revolution, Alaa is again imprisoned along with a number of prominent revolutionary figures. And there can be no better reflection of the state we are in – a revolution in waiting, behind bars.

I had written the poem back in 2011 with a short introduction that still holds true:

Inspired by the strength and resilience of Alaa Abd El Fattah and the people who know that we deserve better and do something about it regardless of the consequences. #FreeAlaa