running away

its so great to run away

when home is your refuge

sometimes all you want to do is run away and retreat home

you want to put a white flag on your window

saying you give up

you surrender

let them do whatever they want let them honk until we lose our sense of hearing

until our ears start ringing or falling

at 2 pm in zamalek, the students fill the streets like ants looking for food

all these people, what are they doing?

where are they going?

coming back from schools

are they really learning?

the trees are flourishing with vibrant colors

the sun is shining with an anger or revenge

it is really too hot to bare

hotter than any march before

and a wave of hot air colors us sleepy and tired

less clothes we wear but we take care so we do not offend our people

we try to survive the heat and avoid the pedestrian's stare

the women of Egypt are skilled and witty

the women of Egypt have to develop skills that no women in the world can learn

being tough

being respectful

understanding what to wear and realizing the scenarios of all the places you will go

you have to play a plot in your head knowing exactly what is acceptable where

to weddings we need to cover on our way with big wraps and coats

in the wedding revealing dresses are acceptable for non conservative families

before going to a wedding you must understand exactly where and who will be there.

you have to pick up on so many cues.

so many subliminal messages to grasp

there are those opposing religion so don't you dare mention in

there are the complainers: all they do is complain about everything in this city all you have to do is agree

the poor: they have acquired faith and happiness yet lost a lot of their brains.

they will postpone any work and they would rather sit and relax enjoy their cigarette and funky ring tones

they also have big dreams but they will happen after death

we are a lot like the ancient egyptians death is a big dream for us

being good here and patient, over there we will party

we are mostly tired

exhausted

mothers running around taking kids to practice

nannies becoming the survival guide to parents

fathers working their days to exhausted sleep

and so many people leaving their jobs

every one dreams of travel but most people can not live away from the city they love to hate

we are running in circles

sometimes we want to run away

and close the curtains

turn off the lights

and lose our selves in God's greatest gift: sleep