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Literature, PoetryJune 24, 2014

You, wandering in search of light

The Antagonist Awakes, by Faizaan Ahab

You, wandering in search of light

O you wandering in search of light
Carrying a piece of sky on your broad shoulders,
Fill my evening of breaths and oblivions
With voices.

O you wandering with me at rhythm of waves
Lend me these fascinating infinities
Just for a moment.

I am like you
A human being still loving
And I have enough ears to listen to symphonies of shells
And I have enough eyes to see whispers
Of homeless winds of your migrations.

He that sees the sea but once
Parts with it as many times as winds do…

Për ty që rend në kërkim të dritës

Për ty që rend në kërkim të dritës
Me një copëz qielli mbi shpatullat e gjera,
Mbushma me zëra
Këtë mbrëmje frymërash dhe harrimesh.

Për ty që rend në mua me ritmin e dallgëve
Ma fal veç për një çast
Këtë mahnitje pafundësish.

Unë jam si dhe ty
Një njeri që ende dashuron.
Dhe kam vesh për t’i dëgjuar sinfonitë e guaskave
Dhe kam sy për t’i parë fëshfëritjet e erërave pa atdhe
Të shtegtimeve të tua.

Kush e ka ndjerë detin veç një herë
Është ndarë prej tij po aq sa këto erëra…

~ Alisa Velaj

 

Alisa Velaj is an Abanian poet whose work has appeared in a number of international magazines, including ‘The Cannon’s Mouth’ (UK), ‘The Midnight Diner’ (USA), ‘Poetica’ (USA), ‘Time of Singing’ (USA) and ‘Enhance’ (USA). She also has work in forthcoming issues of ‘The French Literary Review’ and ‘Canto’. Her poems are translated into English by Ukë Buçpapaj.

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AlbanianAlisa VelajPoem of the WeekpoetrytranslationsUkë Buçpapaj

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One last love letter...

April 24, 2021

It has taken us some time and patience to come to this decision. TMS would not have seen the success that it did without our readers and the tireless team that ran the magazine for the better part of eight years.

But… all good things must come to an end, especially when we look at the ever-expanding art and literary landscape in Pakistan, the country of the magazine’s birth.

We are amazed and proud of what the next generation of creators are working with, the themes they are featuring, and their inclusivity in the diversity of voices they are publishing. When TMS began, this was the world we envisioned…

Though the magazine has closed and our submissions shuttered, this website will remain open for the foreseeable future as an archive of the great work we published and the astounding collection of diverse voices we were privileged to feature.

If, however, someone is interested in picking up the baton, please email Maryam Piracha, the editor, at maryamp@themissingslate.com.

Farewell, fam! It’s been quite a ride.

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