I would love to just tell you a story of liberty But that would be unjust for my people And not very liberating for me Just a century ago stories of smiles were told But lo and behold Al-Aqsa was raided Oh, how the people turn their heads and wear blindfolds I too, was born […]
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Solitude in the Crowd: the Journey into Iftar Photo Essay by Ushbah Al-Ain This is a collection of photographs I have taken over the last six years, chronicling moments leading into Iftar during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Iftar is the opening meal after a dry fast at sunset, upon the call of the fourth obligatory daily prayer […]
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The Case for Gratitude by Ushbah Al-Ain Artwork by Joumana Medlej To say that we are emerging from a pandemic that has fundamentally changed our lives is an understatement. The staggering impact of the past few years has left people feeling disoriented collectively. Yet the pressure to keep grinding persists: to keep providing, creating, and consuming […]
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This honest review of Hazem Fahmy’s Waiting for Frank Ocean in Cairo was in exchange for an Advance Reading Copy provided to the author by Half Mystic Press. . . . In the spirit of full confession, that unsolicited offering that often makes for great poetry, I had never listened to Frank Ocean before I […]
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Featured Illustration: ‘Swing of Love’ by Darshan Sompura Where does our childhood go When we force ourselves to grow Does it sit in the broken swings Hugging itself tight, yearning For a warmth that will never come Does it lie under the covers Shining a bright light in the middle of the night Hoping for […]
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Witnessing Multi-Hyphenated Identities with Znali Interview by Ushbah Al-Ain Photographs provided by Zain Ali . . . In a world that is becoming increasingly chaotic, I often turn to visual therapy. Choosing to spend time viewing images that stir joy within me and perhaps allow me to rest my eyes in a time gone by. […]
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It was in 2019 that I met Megha Rao at the very first open mic I attended. I was enchanted by her piece which took me to lands I’d never known, seeing things I’d never seen. That’s what her poems are, they’re so much more than what they seem. Her latest publication, Teething, is what […]
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Woman, they say Your breasts get larger each day! It is now time To find a man, they conclude Hands clasped together As if my fate is already agreed upon A fate written by the tears of mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, and cousins Engraved into our family history This long-held tradition Of tying our women up […]
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Featured Image: Natalia Senanayake i’m like a warm coffee pot blend the paleness of milk, mixed with strength and aroma a blend of the two, learning balance and harmony. i stem from the cherry blossoms and willows rooted with love in the backyard oasis of my mother’s green thumb. and the new england drive horseshoe […]
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