Hearing of Alia Muhammed Baker’s Stroke
By Philip MetresHow a Basra librarian
could haul the books each night,
load by load, into her car,
Calling poets to a greater role in public life and fostering a national network of socially engaged poets.
By Philip MetresHow a Basra librarian
could haul the books each night,
load by load, into her car,
By Zein El-AmineSit in their circle.
Don't let your eyes linger
on any object in the room.
By Zohra SaedBehave or the sleeping Alexander will reclaim your lungs.
Kandahar -
Was once a cube of sugar
By Ellen Haganthe ones who brought your father here, come. Bring
with them whole almonds, dried berries & clementines
wrapped in cloth. Their clothes & smart shoes too.
By Naomi Shihab NyeSuch a swift lump rises in the throat when
a uniformed woman spits Throw it away!
and you tremble to comply wondering why
By Deema K. ShehabiI could tell you that listening is made for the ashen sky,
and instead of the muezzin's voice, which lingers
like weeping at dawn,
By Lisa Suhair MajajIf they ask you what you are,
say Arab. If they flinch, don't react,
just remember your great-aunt's eyes.
By Kazim AliI was whispered along the road at Ache
toward the sun-puddled gate
By Philip MetresIn the green beginning,
in the morning mist,
they emerge from their chrysalis
By Fady JoudahWhen the shooting began
Everyone ran to the trucks
Grabbed whatever their backs needed
And made for the trucks