after Izumi Shikibia and Nizar Qabbani
Dew kissed ferns unfurl in silence.
Sea relentlessly blankets shore.
How many times will I betray,
only to find myself in this mountain’s shade?
You watch as I fade into forest.
The earthly scent of cedar stirs longing.
My every footfall, in any direction,
can only lead me back to you.
What gentle hearth this stillness is,
nestled in your arms again.
Wind and rain reduced to memory
Caressing this cabin’s windowpanes.
Nothing,
Save the full moon’s light
Can reach me here.
it’s all ephemeral
except the One
Rooted in the rainy Pacific Northwest, Efemeral’s multilingual written verse and spoken word performance entwine reflections on faith, language and the human psyche. Her latest English works have been published in the anthology, “A Kaleidoscope of Stories” published by Lote Tree Press. She has pieces in anthologies by Rumi Center for Spirituality and the Arts and was also published in The Puritan’s 2019 issue, “What Does It Mean to be a Muslim Writer?”. Her Arabic poetry is currently featured in the public art piece “Weaving Cultural Identities: Threads Through Time” curated by Vancouver Biennale. With(in) her communities, she enjoys facilitating poetry workshops and collaborating with fellow creatives.
Efemeral acknowledges the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations on whose traditional and unceded territories she lives, writes and performs.
You can find her on Instagram as @poetefemeral or reach her by email at poetefemeral@gmail.com
MZAB 