What Does It Mean to Be a Muslim Writer?: What Does It Mean to Be a Muslim Writer?

Four Poems

I have never been prone to honesty.

Secret #3: I Hate What I've Become.

I have never been prone to honesty.

Swallowing the thorns of truth, still,

I prefer the leaves of dishonesty.

Whispering secrets to the sage,

the words feel heavy as they spill.

I have never been prone to honesty.

Lying to the tulips as they age,

“You'll live despite the chill.”

I prefer the leaves of dishonesty.

Wilting within the rusted cage,

my secrets disguised as daffodils.

I have never been prone to honesty.

Budding from my lips, a phage

of half-truths as shallow as the rill.

I prefer the leaves of dishonesty.

Promising the bluebells to assuage

the pain of every lie I told the ghyll.

I have never been prone to honesty,

I prefer the leaves of dishonesty.


Secret #5: I Want To Ask Questions. 

Wavering in thought, I ask the wisteria Do you talk to God?


Secret #6: I Am Afraid Of The Answers.

A foolish question, the wisteria grumbles for a foolish girl.


The Bird That Built Its Cage

Self-painted white walls, homespun penitentiary. Four doors, no way out.

 

About the author

Wend Yasen is an Iraqi-Canadian student at the University of Toronto, where she is currently completing her Bachelor in Humanities. Her poem “Oh Tigris. Oh Euphrates” was published in the Hamilton Spectator in 2017.