SAMAR AL-DEEK

 

 

We Survived To Shine

 

We rose from nights that tried to break us,

carrying the silence of wounds

that never learned to speak.

 

Yet still—

our hearts kept a small lamp burning,

a stubborn flame

that refused to forget the shape of dawn.

 

We walked through shadows

with trembling steps,

but every step carved a path

for someone who would come after us.

 

Pain taught us depth,

but survival taught us light.

And now—

we stand not as what remained,

but as what transformed.

 

We survived,

not to remember the darkness,

but to become

the brightest thing it ever

touched.

 

When Hearts Shake Hands First

 

Before borders speak,

our hearts recognize each other—

a quiet pulse

traveling farther than any map.

 

We meet as nations,

yet stand as humans first,

carrying stories

that echo the same longing for light.

 

Friendship becomes a bridge

no war can burn,

a path where voices rise

not to shout,

but to welcome.

 

And when hearts shake hands first,

the world remembers

that peace is not a treaty—

it is a human instinct

waiting to be honored.

 

SAMAR AL-DEEK

 

SAMAR AL-DEEK is a poet, critic, and novelist residing in France, originally from Syria. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and a diploma in Arabic language from the Syrian University. She worked in teaching for thirty years in Syria and Algeria. Many newspapers and magazines have published interviews about her literary experience. She has published books in poetry, criticism, and novels, including: • Beyond the Mirage • On the Shoulder of the Day • Poplar Roots • Modern Critical Studies of Several Elite Writers • The novel Yasmine Soumari She has been awarded an honorary doctorate and has been honored by numerous forums and literary unions, most notably the International Writers’ Union, headquartered in the United States. She currently works for the International Writers’ Union and teaches Arabic to non-native speakers in France.