There is no cloud in the air, What is that smoke? There is no death in the neighborhood, What is that cry? Those Yemen lands are so rugged Over there is Yemen, its rose is fenugreek Those who go never return, Why? Yemen Turkish Folk Song(1) Yemen is a country set at the southeastern portion…
Khawlah bint al-Azwar, fluttering cloth and clinking metal, deep in the heat of the desert; Squares her shoulders, draws a breath. Sends a word heavenwards, Eyes steely behind their shade. No fear must slake her resolve today. The hilt of the blade warms in her grip, the blood thrums under her skin- The spirit is…
Night descends upon the world’s horizon And the moon’s face gleams. A matter of time before the sun’s rising But darkness tears at the seams. And the needle’s eye seems so small, Blind to sanity’s thin thread. An apocalyptic protocol, A frayed knot’s far spread. The fabric of reality is flexible, Perspective the vehicle of…
The Name is quite a quandary, Constantly collecting curators. An identifier oft identified incorrectly, Ourselves the biggest perpetrators. “Hi, my name is Amal,” I said, “Just like a shopping mall.” Though reality disagreed within, I swayed to society’s call. For a year wandering lost, Unfamiliar and alone, Scraping by and trailing exhaust, Too willing to…
I remember walking inside the empty Pauley Pavilion for the first time. Visualizing the arena’s aesthetics, the baby blue Pac 12 logo inside the three-point line on either side, the famous UCLA logo on center court and all the retired jerseys that hanged above the arena’s seating. There was one jersey that stood out to…
When I planned a trip to the Disney Parks in Asia for spring break, I was ecstatic. I’ve been a Disney fan since I was a little kid, and going to Tokyo Disney Resort has been my dream for so long. The day after finals were over (for me, March 12th), I hopped on an…
It is a shared experience among Muslim Americans that many of us were unable to identify with Muslim characters on film and television programs we watched while growing up. This is not merely an accident or coincidence. Muslim characters have been portrayed as one-dimensional, backwards, and violent ever since the creation of the American and…
As the end of the quarter creeps closer and closer, the pressure to do well and finish the quarter strong increases. We all may have different motives that encourage us to do the best we possibly can on our upcoming exams, but a common one within our community is the pressure from our beloved parents.…
SPOILER: it’s probably not you
Sally: Hey Zaynab, want to go grab lunch with me after class today? Zaynub: Sorry, I can’t today. It is the first day of Ramadan. Sally: So this may sound stupid, but can I ask you something? Zaynub: Sure. Sally: Do you fast all day long? Zaynub: No. I fast from sunrise to sundown. Sally:…