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The Dream

We were talking about something, the subject matter he couldn’t recall, only that he walked away from me feeling as though whatever it was that I had said had made…

The Secrets Trading

I took this photo right after I finished playing with some toys. Once again, I am 6 years old promising myself I will buy all of them as soon as…

The Maha Whisperer

I was standing at the phone booth panicked about calling a boy. I looked over and saw her sat at the entrance of Oliver’s, the primary University pub. We had…

The Grades Making

The combination of coffee, books, and writing are a home comfort. They are my soul food. Sitting in a coffee shop is where I recover from most things in my…

The Six

Omar was so excited to get to the CN Tower, that we went there in the weird fuzzy rain that feels as though the clouds are spitting on the city…

The Fall Colours

Few countries match a Canadian autumn in its beauty. Ramrooma’s only wish when coming here was to see all of our colours; though still freshly changing, Ottawa and the Gatineaus…

The Finito

The exams are over. Truth told, I’m not sure why I bothered studying, since nothing I studied (which was all of the prep they say you need to do for…

The Rolling Monday

Tomorrow’s the big day, fam. Please send some prayers up His way for your girl / ask the Universe to hold me together and get me to deliver. I need…

The Hopeful Romantic

It’s rare that this one gets sappy, but once in a while, she will surprise me. Like earlier today, when she sent me a beautiful and hope-filled few words that…

The Clown(s)

My family’s in Montreal until tomorrow, and The Cloud Cave is so quiet without them. Sad emoji. (They sent me this lovely image from the Old Port. I can’t wait…

The Fluffy Whites

This is the best photo I was able to capture of Omar. Like a proper crack-head, he was far too excited(ly) watching the kitchen crew work their magic. At one…

The Gazawi Figs

I am the small potatoe held by my matrilineal grandfather, this photo of us in Occupied Gaza. Please notice how my yellow socks match my yellow top, and how happy…

The Company We Keep

During lunch, I went to one of my favourite bookstores in search of Le Petit Prince in French. Instead, I found this treasure which I have read neither in French…

The Dancing Reflection

She really loves him. So much, that she keeps telling Reem and I to stop talking so that he might do so. Right in the middle of his monologue. Hi…

The 800 Square Feet Of Love

My friends seem to think so. Y’all know about The February Sitch and that momma has been living with me since. They have yet to begin work on her home…

The 2nd Review

The good folks at The Muslim Vibe interviewed me and reviewed rose-water syrup. Read what they had to say over this way. Comments closed.  

The Unadulterated Loathing

Brand new, also in my hood. Isn’t she gorgeous? You know what isn’t so gorgeous? Exams. Any and all manner of exams, in fact. But especially, standardized testing (language exams)….

The Evening Off

“Where’s the baby?”, she asked me. “…she’s…she’s where babies go”, was my very serious answer. An answer to which I was very committed, and which didn’t draw any suspicion in…

The Confession

What I am about to share will strip away any cool possibly left in my image. (That I believe I have cool is a testament to the idiocy within, by…

The Parents

Lovely view, isn’t it? In a week or so, it’ll be bleeding red and gold. These views are among the best in Ottawa, I think; and it’s worth a move,…

The Transient Clown

Though I hardly get to it enough, the Central Experimental Farm is one of my favourite places in Ottawa. I was today years old when I discovered that it is…

The Riddling Cerveau

This gorgeous mural is just down the street from me; every time I walk past, I stop to admire it and wonder if this is in fact a real woman,…

The Psychoactive Drug

This is a frog. I like it because it’s not real. Once, in university, a friend’s boyfriend went out to grab our dinner, and returned with two paper bags. Standing…

The Metaphor

We each have a learning style. Mine, I am exactly equal parts visual, and tactile. (Auditory learning only works sometimes and in very particular situations.) Meaning that first, I learn…

The Full-Arab

These dead leaves are one of my favourite things about the Fall. They line the streets with gold and scarlet; what’s not to love? Staring out at them, I spotted…

The Communication

This is my study nook in Montreal. No one should be surprised that I chose a place with white lights. They play the softest music here and the clientele are…

The Near Moon

It looks like a normal street, except it isn’t. It takes me to her and for the last while, Thursday nights have somehow become sushi nights in Montreal. She might…

The Tricksters

This photo might lead you to believe that behind this door are things calm and gentle and hippie-ish, as the heart suggest. Total lies. I have been to three cafés…

The Nerding

I really love studying. Like, really really love it. In fact, every couple of years, I take a Masters-level course to refresh my knowledge. I nerd OUT and take matters…

The Shape-Shifters

Isn’t he the CUTEST? I found him hidden between the flowers and bushes and he is the tiniest little gnome around. I imagine he gets peed on a lot, poor…

The I Am Moments Away

“Is there a time that you miss? That you could go back to?,” she asked. There is. There is one particular moment to which I would love to return. This thing,…

The Fall(ing)

There is lovely ‘velo’ (bicycle) art all over the neighbourhood, such as this one. Though hard to discern from this photo, Canada’s begun to cool down, so all windows are…

The Routine Kink

This is Jules, first of two cuddly companions until Sunday. He’s the fatso who, as soon as I get up, hauls his massive bottom over to where I was and…

The Cycle Closing III & IV

I had to place a reminder in my calendar that today is the third of four (but really five) sunsets on marker dates. First and second pieces of this particular…

The Welcome

They are a married couple named Mary and Joseph, both in either their late 60s or early 70s. When I met them, Joseph was bleeding from a cut on his…

The Cake

I most definitely didn’t bake or ice it. I also haven’t purchased a birthday cake for anyone in years, and apart from celebrating my own birthday in 2017, I’d not…

The Magic of The City

This image is unfiltered, and it is the view from my bed, which I can only describe by referencing an Arabic saying – it opens your nafs, with ‘nafs’ meaning…

The Bridge

I’m sitting in Foley Square writing, after having come from the Brooklyn Bridge, and on my way for good old fashioned pasta in Little Italy. Another beautiful day here, but…

The Tour

Still talking, and still confused by the camera. When in New York, make certain to visit the Tenement Museum for their Under One Roof tour, a beautiful homage to the…

The Hajj’s Footsteps

Jum3a mubarakah, friends. I spent the better part of my day in Harlem, following the spirit of El-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, better known still as Malcolm X. I decided to complete…