Castle of Otranto: Matilda’s Preventable Death

June 27, 2020

ENG 309: British Literature 1600-1800: Response Horace Walpole’s published the first Gothic novel, “Castle of Otranto,” in 1764. “Castle of Otranto” is a dramatic and dark novel featuring several elements such as heroines, supernatural occurrences, and extreme weather. Most importantly, it reflects the role and treatment of women in the 18th century. The plot of … More Castle of Otranto: Matilda’s Preventable Death

The Politics of Suffering in Oroonoko

June 20, 2020

ENG 309: British Literature 1600-1800: Response Aphra Behn’s novel, “Oroonoko,” embodies multiple themes, including violence and power, gender roles, and slavery. What stands out to me throughout the novel is the politics of suffering by which characters resist slavery and attempt to achieve freedom by enduring pain. Hence, pain becomes their source of power. It is … More The Politics of Suffering in Oroonoko

John Donne’s Submission to God in “Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God”

June 13, 2020

ENG 309: British Literature 1600-1800: Response   John Donne’s “Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God” is one of the Holy Sonnets that share common themes, including religion, death, and violence. “Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God” stands out to me because it is a profoundly emotional illustration of humans’ fallible nature, which makes one’s desire … More John Donne’s Submission to God in “Batter My Heart, Three Person’d God”

Among Serpents

October 12, 2019

The desert welcomed a little rain, but the drought reclaimed its throne. The story went on. I flipped through the pages and realized I had forgotten how to write; words faded into dust, and a part of me died. Surrounded by serpents, how could the rain have known that the desert sits on empty promises. … More Among Serpents

On receiving love

September 21, 2019

“I thirst for love, but I don’t know how to receive it. I play games to keep my heart safe. Sometimes, I believe I’m too weird to be wanted. Everything I do invites unwanted stares. I hold things in until my facade turns to rubble ‘cause I’m afraid they’ll get bored of my troubles. I … More On receiving love

Unwanted thoughts

September 14, 2019

I don’t think of you, but my mind does sometimes, and it kills me that you’re not by my side. Nights we spent cozied up together are now silenced by the oceans between us. You drifted away, and I’ve been drowning ever since. I bow down to my heart as I stare at the blank … More Unwanted thoughts

Nature’s burden

September 7, 2019

The birds sing the same songs every morning, the wind dances through the grass, the sun leaves nothing to the imagination. I push myself forward, my heart paces faster, my skin wrestles with the heat. I thought I escaped, but every step I take leads me to the same place. The birds stop singing, the … More Nature’s burden

Heart wide shut

August 31, 2019

I can love you forever As long as you’re with me when I close my eyes I don’t have to let go but I won’t move and neither will you I’m willing to fight for you, but I’ll never let you know ’cause I’m at peace with superficial connections feeding off the same old conversations … More Heart wide shut

Goodbye

August 3, 2019

You were a beautiful possibility. You could’ve found a home in me, but the hollowness behind your skin revealed a dark and soulless stare. I never wanted to escape reality when I was with you but you lived in fantasies made of me when the magic was right in front of you. I bet you … More Goodbye

The fall

July 27, 2019

When the ocean walks away and the waves go silent — when the air remains still and the sun fades in the darkness, I’m pulled away from the shore. The water is growing on me and the wind comes to push away my steps towards earth’s core. I see a wistful smile whirling around me; … More The fall

In your head

July 20, 2019

What makes you think I’ll leave my life behind to be by your side? Oh boy, don’t you know? I walked a thousand miles. I lived a thousand lives. Oh boy, I know how to handle pain, and this doesn’t compare. You might need me there to hold you when you’re weak But I’m good right … More In your head

Butterfly Clan

July 13, 2019

When there was none When the desert’s heat held me, and the wind blew through my bones When life came to me empty-handed, a sign of the time came through Fluttering in the most unexpected places, its colored wings root my feet in the ground. And, as it pushes itself against the wind, my heart … More Butterfly Clan

Undying

July 6, 2019

Here’s to the glory of dying and the pain of remembrance Death passes by to bring me back to life, to suffer all over again I’ve lived long and insufferable lives and faced every consequence Everyone leaves as time passes by but at least death is still by my side No memory can hold itself … More Undying

Then came clarity

July 1, 2019

Sitting amidst the chaos, estranged from reality, holding onto fragments of hope and snippets of memories that belong in the past. I was hoping that things might turn out better than expected, but as the night passed by, it brought in clarity; hurtful realizations I needed to release myself from a moment of stagnation. A … More Then came clarity

Dispersed

April 13, 2019

A scattered mind sits at both ends of a spectrum, looking beyond the colors smeared over the realities of the wounded. It speaks. Minds hear. Hearts don’t listen. Loniless triumphed – a victory for one at the loss of all. Faces remain still, contemplating one’s mind with words empty of meaning, disregarding and belittling. “Shelter me,” … More Dispersed

Slowing down

April 6, 2019

When the weather was most turbulent, I began to sink into my own thoughts. Perhaps, it was speaking to me, angered by my lack of self-care. After all, I’ve been distracting myself by stacking up my schedule with activities beyond my human capacity. I’ve always been uncomfortable with solitude and slow movement, but yesterday I … More Slowing down

“Finding Stillness in a Noisy World:” Book Review

March 30, 2019

Following years of escaping in cities, Jana Richman revisits her hometown, Utah, in a journey that unravels her emotions and childhood wounds. In her 2018 book “Finding Stillness in a Noisy World,” she guides her readers through a transformative and eye-opening journey in which she explores transverse feelings including fear, love, and loss in a … More “Finding Stillness in a Noisy World:” Book Review

The end of days

March 16, 2019

Is it just me or is the world broken enough to die? Behind a lens witnessing the world tear apart, I’m sitting in despair, listening to my throbbing heart. A glass stands between you and me. My screams are caged in sighs. Help! Get me out of here! I want to escape the safety that … More The end of days

What do I care

March 9, 2019

What do I care if the wind runs wild when the mountains drop and the skies divide What do I care if the seas run scared when the sands dry up and the valleys drain Even our shadows leave us behind when the stars fill out the darkness inside Clouds run heavy, but tears subside … More What do I care

AUSMUN 2019 Newsletter

February 26, 2019

As part of the American University of Sharjah’s 12th annual Model United Nation’s media team, I wrote two articles and co-wrote one alongside my colleague Frederikke Christiansen for the AUSMUN 2019 newsletter. Click here to Download Click here to Redirect to AUSMUN