Tehmina Ahmed
Editor's Note: Sometimes, the work one curates falls into a pattern of itself. This is what happened with this month's choice of archival and curated work: Kyla Pasha's poem 'Phoenix' carries references to language, and when Tehmina Ahmed's poem 'rupya' came into my inbox, I realised with delight that they related to one another.
- Ilona Yusuf
rupya
the rupya
is wrought silver
wrought silver
and dross
rupya
sikka
dhela
piye
phooti cowrie
they said was
a shell
devoid of value
spinning
side to side
fires
burn their way
to ash
the tongue speaks
mouth of fire
skin of flame
when age begins
to trace
upon the face
shades of the volcano
the word
will save you
from the abyss
Once an advertising copywriter and psychology teacher, Tehmina Ahmed became an activist, journalist, writer, editor, photographer and filmmaker, in no particular order. She is now a part-time poet and translator.