Zeina Azzam: My love, how can I contact you? حبيبي، كيف بدي اتصل فيك؟

The Trump administration illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate of Columbia University, in direct retaliation for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights.
— ACLU

.
They handcuffed him, didn’t listen when he’d speak,
callously severing him from his home
as his wife cried, حبيبي، كيف بدي اتصل فيك؟

Mahmoud is now in a prison, grim and bleak,
not charged with a crime, no rights of his own,
handcuffed, hauled far, trying to be heard, to speak.

Noor will carry their baby for just a few more weeks
while Mahmoud prays to witness the birth of his first born.
The words between them repeat, حبيبي، كيف بدي اتصل فيك؟

“Who has the right to have rights?” he entreats
us, this political prisoner with liberties withdrawn.
Hands tied behind his back, he’s forbidden to speak.

Mahmoud fights for Palestine, for justice; he ekes
hope far from his family, no contact, alone,
haunted by Noor’s words, حبيبي، كيف بدي اتصل فيك؟

This abrogation of rights makes us seek
to protect those vulnerable, unknown—
handcuffed, not listened to when they speak,
as they hear the cry حبيبي، كيف بدي اتصل فيك؟

~~~~

Copyright 2025 Zeina Azzam

Note: The Arabic ؟ حبیبي، كیف بدي اتصل فیك translates to, “My love, how can I contact you?” —implying, “how will I be able to contact you?” The transliteration is “Habeebi, keef biddi attisil feek?”

Zeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She served as Poet Laureate of the City of Alexandria, Virginia from 2022-2025. Her publications include Some Things Never Leave You (Tiger Bark Press 2023).