m8

  (1952- )

 * On a cool spring day on March 12, 1952 a poetry legend was born. This legend is Naomi Shihab Nye. Although she was born in St. Luis, Missouri, to a Middle Eastern father and an American mother, she spent her child hood days in the country of Jordan and the Old City in Jerusalem. After highschool she went to Trinity University where she recieved her B.A in English and world religions. Naomi has written many books of poems such as //19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, Red Suitcase//, and //Hugging the Jukebox// being her most popular. From all her hard work she has recieved countless awards. Some of these awards that compile her trophy room are the Carity Randal Prize, International Poetry Forum, and four Puschart Prizes. In 1988 she shocked the world as she won** **The Academy of American Poets' Lavan Award given out by W.S Merwin.**
 * Ever since she moved to the United States from Jerusalem her goal was to make a name for herself and be a spokeperson for the thousands of Arab- Americans. She has done so through her poems. She has taught about heritage and peace through her inspiring words. A fellow poet, William Stafford said, "Her poems combine transcendent liveliness and sparkle along with warmth and human insight. She is a champion of the literature of encouragement and heart. Reading her work enhances life." She has reached her goals and now lives in San Antonio, Texas.**

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Poetry links



 * * [|Snow]
 * [|Muchas Gracias Por Todo]
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 * [|For Mahammad Zeid of Gaza] ||>  ||

Explication of ** “For Mohammed Zeid of Gaza, Age 15” **
In the poem the speaker talks about a bullet that has taken the life of young man. The speaker shows that the bullet and the shooter never had any good intentions. The speaker seems to be a mother or guardian figure trying to cope with the fact that something that was made to do harm to others has taken the life of a loved one. It brings up the battle that many are facing in Gaza. The title gives a lot of insight to the poem it gives the location, which is Gaza and it gives the name and age of the young boy killed. The poem seems to have a current feel to it, since there has been recent warfare in Gaza. The speaker has a soft and gentle tone. The theme of the story is to tell of a bullet that took the life of Mohammed and how all bullets are not afraid to do damage and they will never hide in the bushes or dodges streets.