Light up the whole world,
With your beautiful smile!

Light up the whole world,
With your creative mind!

Light up the whole world,
With your loving heart!

Light up the whole world,
With your acts of kindness!

Hussein Dekmak

"Stop, stop!!!” my two-year-old shouts,
While running after the big blue ice-cream truck.
Bare foot, cash strapped, and out of breath,
He catches him in time to get his usual:
A bag of hot fries, pop rocks, and a two-ball ***** ball!

Now, times have changed.
My two-year-old, Ali, is now a 5’ 9”, 15-year-old,
Who’s sold his soul to sports and video games.
Even the big blue ice cream truck has changed,
And is now a bright yellow color.
The ice cream man has grown older,
Yet, he still asks for Ali with the same great big smile!

Hussein Dekmak

Looking into her streaming tears, I saw the sun's face smiling at me, and her arms reaching to embrace me!

Hussein Dekmak

Are you awake?
Have you given the sun a good morning kiss?
Have you heard the songs of the melodious birds?
Have you embraced the new dawn with your fanciful thoughts?

Are you awake?
Have you shown your charming smile?
Have you inhaled the aroma of 'Hussein's' fresh coffee?
Have you prepared your bright brush to paint a beautiful day?

Are you awake?
Have you fed your thoughts with nourishing ideas?
Have you perfumed your soul with the scent of flowers?
Have you awakened your heart to the call of love?

Hussein Dekmak

Close your eyes,
And look through the eyes of your heart,
For they see only beauty!

Close your ears,
And listen through the ears of your heart,
For they clearly hear the echo of humanity!

Rest your tongue,
And listen to the tongue of your heart's murmur,
For it speaks only truth!

Rest your hands,
And open widely the hands of your heart,
For they are more gentle than the dew of spring morning!

Hussein Dekmak

You are alive!
When you walk through a storm of hardship.
When you sail through a sea of tears, pain, and sorrow.
When you hold on tightly to your dreams and aspirations!

You are alive!
When your ears hear the cry of the suffering.
When your eyes shed tears for their pain.
When your hands reach out to heal their wounds!

You are alive!
When your thoughts are complete with love.
When you see and appreciate the beauty within every race.
When you breach the barrier of time and  your soul blooms like a flower!

You are alive!
When your deeds shine with  kindness.
When your soul greets the dawn with hope.
When you improve yourself with each step, breath, and heartbeat!

Hussein Dekmak

Be the wind of positive change!
Be the lightning that strikes fear into evil!
Be the thunder that triumphs against oppression!

Be the star that guides the lost souls home!
Be the spring breeze that refreshes suffering hearts!
Be the sacred rain that washes away tears of suffering souls!

Be the sun that shines with selfless love!
Be the bird that sings with joy to an open heart!
Be the fragrance of a flower that emanates happiness as its reward!

Be the moon that reflects light onto a darkened path!
Be the dawn that unfolds the gifts of blessings and smiles!
Be the candle that burns in honor of a kind soul mourned by a loved one!