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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Featured Image: Lucxama Sylvain Aged eleven I knew Black was not beautiful That my 4c coils, dark brown skin, and protruding curves Made me too big, loud, and ugly Not blond enough, small enough, or white enough I was a sore thumb in a sea of white A sidekick in some white girl’s life Nice […]
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F. S. Yousaf has come a long way. Having first started writing in 2013, he began posting his poetry online in 2015, leading him to publish three books of poems. His second book, “Sincerely”, was a powerful declaration of love to his then-fiancé that reached and captured the hearts of thousands of readers. His upcoming […]
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