Free Verse

On My Tongue

Bismillah is my first memory.

I became a bird in the Qur’an

at hardly eight years old.

I opened the dark green cover

and revealed the slippery

two hearts: Arabic

and its English translation.

On Saturdays, I learned to repeat

passages in Arabic,

to...

Alycia Pirmohamed

the final fire that ravages the air

unveils the soil on which

we walk aimlessly

and tirelessly

the hypocrisy of the strong protects us

from home. I prefer leaves

yellowed by the rain to false

victories

so I listen to the wind. It's good to live

where there's...

Etel Adnan
1925-

Life is short & I tell this to mis hijas.

Life is short & I show them how to talk

to police without opening the door, how

to leave the social security number blank

on the exam, I tell this to mis hijas.

This world tells them I hate you every day

& I don't keep this from mis hijas

because of the bus driver who kicks...

Natalie Scenters-Zapico
1988 -

my mother occupies the passenger seat. my brother and i

stick in the back.

the radio babbles and sings between us. she is estranged, returning

and we are revenants to a place inside a narration contrived

to read like non-fiction, a continuous telling since one

mouth...

Kaie Kellough
1975 -