Dedicated to all the Mariams out there.
Author: Mariam Ahmed
Mariam Ahmed is a California poet. She currently lives in San Diego, CA while she pursues her Masters in Fine Arts for Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry.
MAP 28
Zindagi زندگی
Zoetic words —
I let my voice fill my chest and
Now it cascades out my mouth
Deep down I feel it vibrate
A sublime solitude
Growing
In my mind
MAP 27
Yaad یاد
Your ghost banished
A bit of my heart
And remnants appear when I
Dig deep down
In my soul / a candle flickers /
memory burns low / yet still
alive / Holding on through /
bitter frost / a reminder of /
how to survive / A simple
thought / covered by / the
snow of time
memory burns low / yet still
alive / Holding on through /
bitter frost / a reminder of /
how to survive / A simple
thought / covered by / the
snow of time
What once was lost
Will again be mine.
MAP 26
Xabaan زبان
Xanthic hues of turmeric
Anything for a taste
Bursts of fantasy
A touch of color — just
A dash —
Now dive in
MAP 25
Wakt وقت
Whistle with the winds
At night the stillness sets in
Kindred spirits
Trail my way home
Silence / on every side / the time
likes / Making excuses / and stealing /
new stories / that look old / for
many years / Remember / every
moment’s passing / like / cracked
mirrors / on / broken floors
likes / Making excuses / and stealing /
new stories / that look old / for
many years / Remember / every
moment’s passing / like / cracked
mirrors / on / broken floors
MAP 24
Vakee واقعی
Vivid tales sound
Almost like a fairytale
Keepers of secret whispers
Everything is a game of telephone
Everything is a mirage
Unseen face / Tight lipped / Secret
safe / Guarded words / not to give
a clue / If you knew / what I knew /
A secret key / Locked away / To
keep it hidden / to a dying day
safe / Guarded words / not to give
a clue / If you knew / what I knew /
A secret key / Locked away / To
keep it hidden / to a dying day
MAP 23
Ugna اگنا
Under the dirt I push my roots
Ground is deeper than I can reach
Night lulls me to sleep and with the sun I
Awaken to spread my leaves
Brightly illuminated clouds /
make us wonder – are we in
the clouds / looking down on a
planet / or as we have likely
believed / for many years / are
we on earth / well-grounded /
and looking up?
make us wonder – are we in
the clouds / looking down on a
planet / or as we have likely
believed / for many years / are
we on earth / well-grounded /
and looking up?
MAP 22
Tanha تنہا
Then I looked upon
And beyond the
Nacreous daze — a
Haze — and saw that I was
Alone
I think to myself,
“Every voice lives,”
“Every voice lives,”
“Which unknown street address is this?”
My eyes ask
Time is like
When the falling rain stops
Someone wanders off
It overshadows our moments,
I think this again, often
As my watch remains silent
MAP 21
Sakoon سکون
Stare at the ellipses
At the end of a life story
Keenly they speak of falling
Over the page
Over spaces unknown
New endings, new longings
MAP 20
Roshan روشن
Reflect upon this tinge of pink resting
On the gray evening sky
So content, it falls around me
Humming a familiar song
Among the filtered sun
Now I am free
Specks, sparkles and reflections /
Small diamonds, tinsel / and
polished platinum / Glow in the
dark and make / the summer last
forever / and beyond / Defy the
dullness / bring home brilliance /
Infinity for good measure
Small diamonds, tinsel / and
polished platinum / Glow in the
dark and make / the summer last
forever / and beyond / Defy the
dullness / bring home brilliance /
Infinity for good measure