after Muhammed died I did the only logical thing I went to the cemetery for black Civil War soldiers now mostly desecrated with ball fields and dog shit I came to this cemetery of the not properly appreciated the voices not heeded did not feel listened to covered over, plotted in … Continue reading Remembering Muhammed Hansrod
Category: poetry
As I was walking through my new neighborhood in Ankara I turned on my voice memos and got something down that I've splashed together with some field images and put up on Medium. Hoping for an audio file to follow. Enjoy! https://medium.com/@tesswaggoner/the-streets-3402fb379d2d
I’ve been writing this for a long time. I remember sitting and sobbing on my balcony in Southwest So scared Sure, I was excited Today I’d call it heycanli But fear of the unknown Of non comprehension Of safety Clouded my eyes “What am I going to do?” I implored to sometimes roommate, sometimes guru, … Continue reading Sitting on a Balcony / Refractions / You Can’t Go Home Again
This past semester I wrote a poem for my Intermediate Arabic class. It was composed in Arabic, but my translation appears below. I post it today in remembrance and in solidarity with all those girls whose dreams are marred by the reality of occupation. May you find peace. طفلة هنالك طفلة صغيرة فتخيلوها خدينها زهرية … Continue reading Imagine Her
"There are random moments —tossing a salad, coming up the driveway to the house, ironing the seams flat on a quilt square, standing at the kitchen window and looking out at the delphiniums, hearing a burst of laughter from one of my children’s rooms— when I feel a wavelike rush of joy. This is my … Continue reading “Arbitrary Moments of Nearly Painful Happiness”
For The Foxes By Charles Bukowski don't feel sorry for me. I am a competent, satisfied human being. be sorry for the others who fidget complain who constantly rearrange their lives like furniture. juggling mates and attitudes their confusion is constant and it will touch whoever they deal with. beware of them: one of their … Continue reading For The Foxes