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Literature, PoetryMarch 29, 2017

Aloud

Silent Voices II, by Scharjeel Sarfaraz. Image courtesy of ArtChowk Gallery

Let us say that what remains at the bottom of a coffee cup holds a promise for tomorrow
and let us say that dates are to be eaten in odd numbers of one, three, or five
and let us say that in the north a wall develops like a mountain chain
and let us say that one hundred and thirty shells will fall on Monday
and let us say that chewing cloves will numb the gums and mouth
and let us say that in the south innumerable villages disappear
and let us say that to wear black is to wear the color of shade
and let us say that the tamarisk will flourish even in drought
and let us say that water should be drunk while seated
and let us say that honey ginger, cardamom green
and let us say that a woman alone welcomes hurt
and let us say that the Red Sea will remember
and let us say that there is no truth but truth
and let us say that sage or anise could heal
and let us say that the taste of rose water
and let us say that time will move faster
and let us say that there is no peace
and let us say that let us say
and let us say that
and let us say we must not speak such things

~ Tara Ballard

Tara Ballard is from Alaska. She and her husband live in the Middle East where they teach English literature to wonderful high school students. Her poems have been published in The Southampton Review, Salamander, One, HEArt Online, and other literary magazines.

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Poem of the WeekpoetryScharjeel SarfarazTara Ballard

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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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Thirteen

"...the travelers suddenly saw, as though coming to meet them, a big truck flying toward them from the rocky crest."...

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