This poem is about the terror of being left behind by those we love. The pegasus from the Poetry Foundation is tattooed on my left arm. I borrow—“glitterfreeze”—from a Gorillaz song. Linguistics, astronomy, ecology, cosmology—overlap like sediment. Pegasus, born of Poseidon and Medusa, is a horse of brutal beauty. And then there are the lunar maria, vast stretches of darkened plains on the Moon formed by ancient lava.
Jaia Hamid Bashir on "Pegasus Tattoo on the Left" |
|
|
An Interview with Kaycee Hill
"Writing poetry allows me to access a part of myself that comes alive when I write. There’s something deeply satisfying about putting pen to paper to capture people I know, resurface memories, and explore the complex dynamics of family – both the one we’re born into and the one we choose. Inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks’ words: ‘we are each other’s business’ I find true joy in the process, even when it leads to painful places or revelations. As an outlet, writing poetry is a tool for understanding both myself and the world around me. It just feels essential. Necessary."
via BRISTOL24/7 |
|
|
What Sparks Poetry: Philip Metres on "Qasida for Abdel Wahab Yousif"
"The qasida begins with human longing. The moderns didn’t invent it! It was in the human heart. This is the nasīb, which means 'fate,' the poet is in a nostalgic mood. Sometimes, pursuing the beloved, the poet will come upon the remains of a camp, the beloved’s caravan, causing a consideration of what has passed. If it begins with longing and its endless distances (thanks, Robert Hass), it doesn’t stay there, but rather moves into the trouble of the world." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
