Iqra

Winner of the DISQUIET Prize for Poetry

By IQRA KHAN

Watch the poet read from this piece at our Issue 28 launch party:

I begin as revelation. As explosion of glottal light against silence.
I am again asking for directions to the Haram, my ankles fluent in Arabic.

I am again asking for direction, ya Haram, my ankles flowing with Arabic!
Hagar, watch how God transforms this wilderness to civilization.

Hagar, our God transcends form and the wilderness of civilization.
A prophet migrates when the symptoms of sand and water say run.

A poet migrates until the syntax of sand and water says breathe.
All sky is blue and passable at home for summer.

All sky is blue and passable for home in summer.
Capitulation is to burn—a candle is a mouth on fire.

Capitulation is to burn a candle for a town on fire.
I have come this far to augment God embroidered in my throat.

I have come too far as argument. God borders in my throat.
I end as revelation, as expulsion of glottal light. And then, silence.

 

Iqra Khan is a Pushcart-nominated poet, winner of the 2024 DISQUIET Prize in poetry and the Frontier Global Poetry Prize 2022. Her poems appear in Indiana Review, Denver Quarterly, Puerto del Sol, Southeast Review, The Adroit Journal, Salt Hill Journal, swamp pink, The Rumpus, Apogee, and Palette Poetry, among other journals.

[Purchase Issue 28 here.]

From the beginning, The Common has brought you transportive writing and exciting new voices. We are committed to supporting writers and maintaining free, unrestricted access to our website, but we can’t do it without you. Become an integral part of our global community of readers and writers by donating today. No amount is too small. Thank you!

Iqra

Related Posts

A photograph of leaves and berries

Ode to Mitski 

WILLIAM FARGASON
while driving today     to pick up groceries / I drive over     the bridge where it would be  / so easy to drive     right off     the water  / a blanket to lay over     my head     its fevers  / I do want to live     most days     but today / I don’t     I could     let go of the wheel  

The Month When I Watch Joker Every Day

ERICA DAWSON
This is a fundamental memory. / The signs pointing to doing something right / and failing. Educated and I lost / my job. Bipolar and I cannot lose / my mind. The first responder says I’m safe. / Joaquin Phoenix is in the hospital. / I’m in my bedroom where I’ve tacked a sheet...

Image of glasses atop a black hat

Kaymoor, West Virginia

G. C. WALDREP
According to rule. The terrible safeguard / of the text when placed against the granite / ledge into which our industry inscribed / itself. We were prying choice from the jaws / of poverty, from the laws of poverty. / But what came out was exile.