Tower of Babel

Say His Name: An Ode to Mubarak Soulemane

Axel Mitchell Free Verse

Our screens are covered with protests on T.V. and live footage. The comment sections are just flooded with R.I.P.s And yet headlines read:

“Black teen fatally shot.”

But his name was not Black Teen. He was only nineteen. His family called him Mubi but this name: it’ll be remembered not. For it was impatiently engraved on his stone, and it’ll forever read

Mubarak Soulemane June 24, 2000 January 15, 2020

Mubarak, May Allah embrace you May He welcome you and may He shine His light on you as much as passionately as unwaveringly and as undoubtedly

as you will be missed. 15

Rose

Nora Ameti Free Verse

A Rose A lovely Flower Smelling its lovely sent A lovely gift given to me My love.

Rain

Nora Ameti Free Verse

From high in the sky, Falls drops water, Landing on the earth, Helping it keep its water, Landing on the flora and fauna, Helping them grow, Landing on the humans, Watching the droplets race to the ground.

Apple

Nora Ameti Free Verse

That bright red fruit I see Shining on a branch Blowing in the crisp autumn wind With a single green leaf attached to its stem I detach it from its stem.