ramadan//a poem for us dawq: and so you enter a realm to clean the sheet like morning, a knowing of the quench, a thirst that grounds at dawning sami3: you hear the masjids, they call despite the yawning, a word to keep you steadfast, when your destiny is calling haas: do you feel the light, it’s renewed before the soaring, and when the shadow shifts, there lay metaphors worth exploring souls they scurry and prayers break down a hoarding, theRead more
Poem
Re: Poetic injustice Did you ever Did you ever consider that I wanted to stay Did you ever consider that You pushed me away Did you ever consider that It felt good at first but 4 years I felt neglected Did you ever consider that My heart wasn’t well protected Did you ever consider that you felt too much Did you ever consider that It was the reason we weren’t in touch Did you ever consider that I didn’t wantRead more
Book
Recommended reading on the Black, Arab & Berber people and diversity of the Sahara | From the Atlas Mountains in the Sahara to the Hoggar plateau, there was a huge desert, where a traveller could see vast areas of land covered by sand: the sand alternated with rocks in many areas of the desert. The sand dunes were at times as high as two hundred metres: the powerful desert storms from the north east along the Gassis corridor contributed immenselyRead more
Photograph
Algiers Series | Timimoun Connections | A young boy orders some snacks from the tea hotspot in central Algiers. Customers are plenty at this favourite snack hut in the heart of the capital. Friendly chat is exchanged as people wait for their orders of fresh mint tea. The tea shop resembles a hole in the wall but one that is not easily missed. In a box-like store in the wall, a window allows passersby to peer in from the sidewalkRead more
Poem
On loved ones we have lost or never met| There | I will always be hurt there pain there can’t describe there sometimes there is on my mind when I imagine that you may have been there too pause break Une douleur imortalisee* let there be Sabar* for me for you there. Phrase and Proverb Glossary: Une douleur immortalisee (a pain immortalised written in French), Sabar (the patience wished on those who are especially grieving the loss of a lovedRead more
Photograph
Marrakech Series | Musical Chairs | An impromptu tour of the Kasbah leads me back to questions around the nature of North African street socials. It has been a thing and continues to be a thing since the region’s pre and post colonial liberation periods. Men drag their wooden stools and ideas from corner to corner in pursuit of a conversation. They speak of politics and daily struggles, family woes and causes for celebration. Depending on cultural and religious etiquette,Read more
Book
Recommended reading on poets that speak hybrid languages: bint il neel I no surprise it was your father started it taught you allah’s word and said sing daughter sing a bird you sang from your belly to soar over all of egypt in the delta’s villages muwlads weddings ramadan breakfasts you flew your voice no surprise it was god started it put a burning in your mouth and said open up and sing you were young and a novelty voiceRead more
Poem
Re: Process of writing poetry | The Journey Not the Destination | (Bismillah*) When I don’t understand a magical inquisition is ignited (courageux*) soul search search engine sweet wonder yonder ponder test but not judge see yet practice empathy pick up book put it down naturally curious enlightened yet delirious tabs virtual bookmark physical bookmark stop writing cross it out start again trace it in (Ya Allah*) when I don’t Understand a magical inquisition is ignited (suffisent*) either way (AlRead more
Yasmine Bendjoudi 