Poem-a-Day - "Surah" by Tarfia Faizullah

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
January 27, 2021  

Surah


Tarfia Faizullah

the falling paper flower

the plastic tree branch

the plight of reminiscing

the bureaucracy of kismet

the factories empty of logic

the bins to hold what’s done

the spaceship of butterflies

the video game of intimacy

the series premiere of strife

the discretion of the cosmos

the sharp wisdom of the young

O friend who reads in a cave w/o light

the comb detangling the scars

forward is not so far away

Copyright © 2021 by Tarfia Faizullah. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on January 27, 2021, by the Academy of American Poets.

Subscribe to the Poem-a-Day Podcast 

  

“I decline to explain or contextualize this poem. If you, reader, get something from it—that’s all that matters.”
Tarfia Faizullah

Tarfia Faizullah is the author of Registers of Illuminated Villages (Graywolf, 2018) and Seam (SIU, 2014). She lives in Dallas, Texas. 

Registers of Illuminated Villages
(Graywolf, 2018)

“Electronic Thorns” by Reem Allawati
read more

“Collude” by Bhanu Kapil
read more

Thanks to Fatimah Asghar, author of If They Come For Us (One World/ Random House, 2018), who curated Poem-a-Day for this month’s weekdays. Read a Q&A about Asghar’s curatorial approach and find out more about our guest editors for the year
This free, daily series is made possible by our readers. If you’re able, please consider donating to support this work.
Become a monthly sustainer
join
Make a one-time gift
donate
From Our Sponsors
Copyright © 2021 The Academy of American Poets, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
The Academy of American Poets
75 Maiden Lane
St #901
New York, NY 10038

Add us to your address book


View this email in your browser

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Older messages

"Order of Events" by Phillip B. Williams

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

First, he taught us to use the dead as shawls Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day January 26, 2021 Order of Events Phillip B. Williams First, he taught us to use the dead as shawls in the

"Ode on an Abandoned House" by Hayan Charara

Monday, January 25, 2021

Wind and rain, here / are the keys / to the house— Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day January 25, 2021 Ode on an Abandoned House Hayan Charara Wind and rain, here are the keys to the house—

"Hope" by Theodore Henry Shackelford

Sunday, January 24, 2021

O Hope! into my darkened life / Thou hast so oft' descended; Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day January 24, 2021 Hope Theodore Henry Shackelford O Hope! into my darkened life Thou hast

"To Rebuild" by Hallie Knight

Saturday, January 23, 2021

The house was built, / Brick by brick, pane by pane, Facebook Twitter Instagram Support Poem-a-Day January 23, 2021 To Rebuild Hallie Knight The house was built, Brick by brick, pane by pane, Initially

Announcing the winners of the Inaugural Poem Contest and NPM Poster Contest

Friday, January 22, 2021

Plus, poems and lesson plans for Black History Month Facebook Twitter Instagram January 2021 In the fall of 2020, the Academy of American Poets, the originator and organizer of National Poetry Month,

You Might Also Like

Scenes from the coast: For a few chips more

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

As the ten-piece band on stage roars through one classic Ennio Morricone track after the other, one woman keeps diving her hand into a large bag of potato crisps. Keeps pulling out one thin chip at a

Meghan Markle Just Wore The Midi Dress We *Need* For Spring

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Get it while you still can. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

The Beauty of Butter

Monday, April 15, 2024

And the art of discernment ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Safari Is Better Than Chrome, Actually

Monday, April 15, 2024

7 Ways to Get Cheaper Event Tickets. It's better than Arc, too. Sorry. Not displaying correctly? View this newsletter online. TODAY'S FEATURED STORY Safari Is Better Than Chrome, Actually

The Woman Who Ate Eric Adams for ‘Breakfast’

Monday, April 15, 2024

What's new today on the Cut — covering style, self, culture, and power, plus interviews, profiles, columns, and commentary from our editors. Brand Logo MONDAY, APRIL 15 encounter The Woman Who Ate

Need a Lift?

Monday, April 15, 2024

Give your 'do, outfit or mood a boost with this group of finds. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Zendaya Just Recreated Carrie Bradshaw's Most Chaotic Look

Monday, April 15, 2024

Plus, an exclusive 'Bridgerton' interview, your tarot reading for money this week, & more. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Momofuku backtracks on “chile crunch” trademark

Monday, April 15, 2024

This kitchen appliance is the MVP of weeknight dinners ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

One week left to participate in Dear Poet!

Monday, April 15, 2024

Celebrate National Poetry Month by teaching living poets Facebook Twitter Instagram The deadline to submit to Dear Poet is one week away! Every National Poetry Month, we present Dear Poet, a multimedia

Wharlest Jackson Died for Our Rights

Monday, April 15, 2024

Tradeswomen have jobs today because of decades of organizing by Black workers OHF WEEKLY Wharlest Jackson Died for Our Rights By Molly Martin • 15 Apr 2024 View in browser View in browser Wharlest