I am honored and humbled to have Frammenti di Haifa, the Italian translation of my novel, Haifa Fragments, recieve the second place in the Premio Letterario Citta di Siena literary award. The ceremony was held at the Università per Stranieri di Siena on 25 May, 2018. I would like to thank the judges for their choiceContinue reading “Frammenti di Haifa receives second place in the Premio Letterario Citta di Siena literary award”
The Unspeakable Act – short story on sexual assault
I am excited to have my short story, The Unspeakable Act, published by FemAsia Magazine. The Unspeakable Act is a story about sexual assault. I deal with this issue in my fiction, poetry, as well as in non-fiction pieces. Because if we want to create change, we need to talk about sexual violence, and createContinue reading “The Unspeakable Act – short story on sexual assault”
The act of getting smaller while growing up as a girl
On the experience of growing up as a girl, when the body begins to change. I relate to this so much. Will be writing a short piece about this, and am interested in hearing similar or different experiences. Any women who relate to this? Your thoughts? How did you feel when your body started toContinue reading “The act of getting smaller while growing up as a girl”
walking through the hell of memory
walking through the hell of memory I won’t be tied down by – memory of your ugly acts. My body won’t be wrecked just because you – desecrated it violated it damaged it. All these wounds of mine – they are mine to claim. I will make beautiful art with them. Continue reading “walking through the hell of memory”
triggered – excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic” work-in-progress
An excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic,” my current writing project Trigger warning: post-trauma, sexual assault. With Suleiman, time redefined itself. Often, we didn’t have any need for words and we would only sit somewhere for hours, back to back or side by side, our bodies touching. And it was enough, for me. We lived inContinue reading “triggered – excerpt from “Taboos in Arabic” work-in-progress”
The cartography of my body
Come, don’t be afraid Take a closer look At my body. Can you see the map? I’ve mapped out the battlefield, Especially for you. All the wars fought on it. To the North – the ruptured country To the East – the desert of pain To the South – the river of blood To theContinue reading “The cartography of my body”
#MeToo – I’m a survivor of sexual violence
English and Arabic this is my body wounded, ripped, ruptured, bleeding. It’s been made a battlefield. But today, I reclaim it. And one day, it will heal. هذا جسدي المجروح، النازف والممزق والذي قد جعلوا منه ساحة حرب اليوم، سأدوّن ملكيّتي على جسدي، سأضمّد جراحه وفي يوم ما سيصبح معافى . #meToo #healing #وأنا_كمان #تسكتيش Tuskuteesh (don’t remainContinue reading “#MeToo – I’m a survivor of sexual violence”
on depression – memory, at the hospital
A memory: I walk outside to smoke a cigarette, or three. I get a horrible coffee from the vending machine – need caffeine, don’t care that it tastes like shit. The time is somewhere between one and three in the morning – I lost track of it. This night, the longest in my life. IContinue reading “on depression – memory, at the hospital”
Fragments of a soul – شظايا روح
This is a rough translation of an attempt to write a poem in Arabic. The poem has obviously been lost in translation, but still, I wanted to share this with you. I’ll be writing on this in English in the coming period, and probably will use this rough translation as a basis for something moreContinue reading “Fragments of a soul – شظايا روح”
exposure – on #depression
As some of you have noticed, I’ve been writing about depression, PTSD and mental health issues lately. It’s a new writing project I’ve undertaken with my daughter, Michelle Bvb Lu, in the last few weeks, and this time, it is non-fiction. It is raw writing, coming out of the deepest parts of my soul. It isContinue reading “exposure – on #depression”
Writing in the Margins 