Karya Zhema

 By Zhema The first time Arol laid his eyes on Zhema, he knew there was something special about her. She wasn’t like the other women around him—bold, forward, and competing for his attention. She was different. Modest, intelligent, and graceful in her words, she carried herself with a quiet strength that fascinated him. He met her during his studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, where he majored in Islamic Law Jurisprudence. Thousands of miles away, in Indonesia, Zhema pursued her own dreams, studying English Literature at Untag'45 Surabaya University. Despite the distance, their love flourished. Letters, phone calls, and stolen moments of conversation kept them connected. Arol was surrounded by beauty—women who admired him for his intelligence and charm—but his heart belonged to Zhema. Her smile, like a masterpiece of art, warmed his soul. He saw in her not just a woman, but a future—a partner, a confidant, and the only one he wanted by his side. Years passed, and when Arol f...

By Zhema In silence, he watched her from afar, A jewel so bright, a radiant star. Ali, the lion with a heart so pure, Held a love so deep, steadfast and sure. He whispered not of his longing soul, For patience, he knew, would make him whole. A bond unspoken, a dream concealed, Until Allah’s decree, their fate revealed. Fatimah, the flower of heaven’s embrace, Her grace and light adorned her face. With humility, she lived, serene and true, A heart like no other, loyal and new. Through trials and storms, they held their ground, Their love untouched, divinely bound. For their union was written in the skies, A love that no earthly force defies. Oh, how sweet is the wait, the trust in Allah’s plan, For the hearts that submit, woman and man. Their story remains, a beacon of light, A testament to love, so pure and right. May we, too, hold patience dear, And trust in the path, crystal clear. For love before time, when kept in refrain, Will blossom in purity, free from s...

 By Zhema This poem is dedicated to my sister, Carly. May you be destined to be with him, and if not, let love find it's path as blessed by Allah. My shadow darts as if racing with my body When the tent lights flicker Encircling your sturdy frame out there Standing tall like a knight. Then I knock hard on the boundary of the virtual glass, impossible To let my body meet yours in reality. “Wait until the serene slumber, O lover!” they say. Pretending or insane, who knows? I force it with a heartbeat that never calms. “He is the sleepless longing, always awake—wake him!” Suddenly, my consciousness falls silent. I bow my head, a soft apology to those Who guided you through storms and shadows. For my love, as fierce as the sun, Dared to disrupt their noble paths. But then I pause and listen— What does my heart feel when longing for you? It whispers softly: patience. For love unbridled can lose its way, And I must not let this yearning devour me whole. I promise to hold steady, To walk ...