Kamand Kojouri

"I cannot imagine how much I must’ve suffered in my previous lives to be fortunate enough to have parents like you in this life."

"She might not have read many books. But when she reads a book, she swallows the very words. If you open the books on her shelves, you will find that the front and back covers encase white pages."

"Wake up. If your eyes are sleeping then wipe them gently. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up! If your mind is sleeping then shake it quickly. You need to be awake for this. It is a matter of life and death. Wake up, I said! If your heart is sleeping then beat your chest! You need to be awake for life! You need to be awake for love! It is a matter of living and being alive."

"We live only for the hope of love."

"O, weary angels, don’t look at me with those eyes. If that is your state then what of our cries?What can I tell you of goodness that you don’t already know?What can I tell you of faith,of hope and lovethat you yourselves bestow?O, angels, don’t pluck another feather,this isn’t the sky, it’s just the weather. Please, angels, try. We are one all together. Look up and listen, I’ll say it once and then put down my pen:We are sorry for our ignoranceand even though we are worldly,it might happen again. We are sorry for your wearinessand even though you aren’t worldly,we are no more than human."

"Now is not the time for bigots and racists. No time for sexists and homophobes. Now, more than ever, is the time for ARTISTS. It’s time for us to rise above and to create. To show humanity. To spread hope. We must prevent society from destroying itself, from losing its way. Now is the time for love."

"The only path wide enough for us all is love."

"I don’t know why everyoneis still trying to find out whether heaven and hell exist. Why do we need more evidence?They exist here on this very Earth. Heaven is standing atop Mount Qasiounoverlooking the Damascene sightswith the wind carrying Qabbani’sdulcet words all around you. And hell is only four hours away in Aleppo where children’s cries drown out the explosions of mortar bombsuntil they lose their voice,their families, and their limbs. Yes, hell certainly does existright now, at this moment,as I pen this poem. And all we’re doingto extinguish this hellfireis sighing, shrugging, liking, and sharing. Tell me: what exactly does that makeus? Are we any better than the gatekeepers of hell?"

"It’s so easy to lose faith and become lost in all of the politics of the world. That’s why we need the arts. To sublimate our frustration and anger into something beautiful. Freud called sublimation a virtuous defence mechanism because it is in the arts that we can find our humanity."

"Kiss your scars. Fall in love with them. They ought to serve as life-affirming reminders—a lingering trace of hope. The only reason we have these scars is because we survived and are still here."

"Why do you feel so powerless? Go spend an hour with ants. Each of those black specks you see is a life. One whole life that you can save, take, or affect in some way. You have the power to make so many lives better. It is within you. Don’t lose sight of that."

"You want help? Ask for help. You want love? Ask for love. If you want anything from the universe, anything from yourself, you must first ask."

"You must have hope in a better future and have faith in this hope. But then you must forget your hope and focus on this moment now."

"In the beginning was love, and love was with God, and love was God."

"God begets love."

"I see your painas clearly as I feel my own. I will share your burden so you feel it less. Do not hate this world. Do not hate these people. I will share my hopeso you feel it more. I want you to see our loveas clearly as I feel yours."

"I would rather lie facedown on the ground and use my body as a bridge, than stand proud and tall and use my body as a wall."

"We cannot hunt for love. We can only surrender and become love’s prey."

"You might just find God in a mirror one day."

"You only feel powerless because your fear has given your power to the object of your fear. Once you realise this, you can claim it back."