THE  27Th  EDITIOn

To my father who will never reconcile with the country that raised him
by Naheda Nassan

to the lemon slushies

around the corner

for ten lira

and the Superman chips

baked into swirls

dipped in The Laughing Cow

to the cat

that chased the mouse

for my brother and i

and the orange kitten

we found behind the mosque

and kept

to the shop owner

selling notebooks with gems

i begged dad for

and the uncle

who traced my palms

while i sat in his lap

to the cousin

twisting tissues

tickling my nose

and to Wageeh

and Waseem

and Mazen

whom i lost 

before i could hold 

peace be with you.