Mustafa and Ali stood outside Masjid Abu Bakr, which was nestled into the corner of ancient Walford street and the adjoining Stratham Road. Row upon row of red bricked, terraced, Victorian houses dominated the scene. Busy traffic zoomed by as Friday evening had arrived; the sun was settling for its slumber, and the late-night shopping districts were now warming up for the oncoming shoppers.
Continue readingAdam and Hira had just turned twenty, when they realised, they were in prison. Now they could see four monumental walls topped with barbed wire to the north, south, east and west. Now they could make out the prison officer uniforms on men and women they had not noticed before. Now they could see other prisoners around them, looking and behaving much like themselves. Fear and anguish grew chains around their hands and ankles; the couple struggled to move as the realisation took hold of them; their breaths quickened and sweat trickled on their heads. How on earth did they not realise this before? Why were they prisoners? What had they done wrong? As far as they knew, they had lived an average life in an average town, following the law of the land, most of the time, and keeping out of trouble. Yet now they found themselves languishing behind towering walls and barbed wire.
Continue readingby Novid Shaid, 2010, copyright
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Forgive me my dear sofa,
For my wilful arrogance,
It’s only now I’ve noticed
Your uncanny consciousness.
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Your seats are so inviting!
Your back so comforting!
We fall on you for joy and rest
And you oblige our every whim.
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by Novid Shaid, 2003, copyright
Come and join our night out on the go!
A night of light where your worries will disappear
See our smiles and happy tears that flow!
We promise you our hearts and ready ears.