Young Writers Society

This year was poetically moderate. I didn't write much, but I did write a few poems.

I guess my senses were absorbed with the newlywed life, and later this year and still now, with fatherhood. No blankness to fill with ink. New things. Fullness.

Arcticah once asked me why I haven't yet written a poem about her, and I showed her all the love poems I used to write in the past. But these were all about you, and she smiled, but didn't quite buy it. I was being honest though.

I guess there are times when it's time to put the pen down and breathe in the more tangible struggles and joys of life. This has been that year.

Who else has a new chapter of life open in front of them? I wish you nothing but the best.

Random proverb to end this — the night is long but the Lord is merciful.

(Go home Arc you're tipsy)

Happy cake day!!

Happy cake day bro

There are hundreds of ways — beyond ‘thank you' — to express gratitude. On my 16th cake day, and in the spirit of giving thanks, here are 16 meaningful things you can say to genuinely express gratitude to those around you:

1. “Thank you for always being there for me.”
2. “I really appreciate what you did for me.”
3. “You didn’t have to, but I’m so grateful you did.”
4. “You make a bigger difference than you realize.”
5. “I’m lucky to have you in my life.”
6. “Thanks for thinking of me.”
7. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
8. “You went above and beyond, and it means so much.”
9. “Your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.”
10. “I feel so supported because of you.”
11. “Thanks for being you.”
12. “I truly value your advice.”
13. “What you did really helped me, thank you.”
14. “You’re such an important part of this team.”
15. “I’m so grateful for your time and effort.”
16. “Thanks for making this easier for me.”

Happy cake day! I’m so glad you’re on YWS—it wouldn’t be the same without you!

Happy cake day!!!!!!

Happy cake day

Happy cake day :^) I’m glad u exist and I get to read your lovely poetry

Sixteenth year on YWS completes in two days and I have no plans of retirement

(Go home Arc you're tipsy)

“Field Notes” was a blank notebook that came as a freebie with a sweater I bought this year, but the quote on its cover is what summarizes this entire year for me. The other picture is just me, the real me 🙃

Mountains grow over a period of time... — this year I trekked quite a bit. Mountains are really something else when you truly experience them. The stories written by water, by rocks, by shrubs and trees, by animals. The violence, the tender love. The altitude and the sheer remoteness really does stir something up deep in your soul. I'm thankful for this.

Galaxies change their shapes gradually... — an inner awareness of how even cosmic constants are shifting, slowly. A sense of the sheer scale of life, its endings and beginnings and the slow dawning that we all are more than just ourselves. And one day we'll meet our Maker. I'm thankful for this.

“And we grow old slowly...” — the years gradually go by like months, which pass by like days and in a matter of hours it all boils down to moments. The significance of this. Not only in the sense of making the most of it, but making through it and beyond it with beauty and grace. I hope for this.

Anyways, I hope your year has been meaningful for you in some way or the other as well.

(Go home Arc you're tipsy)

Is life too short or too long? 🙃

We named her on the seventh day following her birth, in keeping with tradition. I've worked with words before but naming your firstborn is a different kind of poetry. A one word poem that must capture everything you find beautiful. Something that will echo into the future. The fruit of your heart.

It had to be special. It was me whom the name first occurred to. After which I consulted Arcticah, who liked it as well. From my perspective, it's important that the mother and the father both agree to the name.

I won't mention the name here, but it's a Persian one and in English it translates to ‘noble light’ or ‘light of nobility.’

On a recent trek, I came across something that stayed with me. I was passing a mud-brick hut belonging to a nomadic family. In many Muslim homes, you’ll see the phrase hadha min fadli rabbi - “This is by the Grace of my Lord” – calligraphed on the wall or door. It’s a reminder that everything we have, no matter how much or little, is a blessing.

The thing is, you often see this on big, beautiful homes as a sign of humility, but this time I saw it on a tiny, humble hut. And honestly, it felt even more powerful. Here was a family with very little in terms of material wealth, yet they chose to put this calligraphy up, acknowledging their home as a gift.

Whether our material portion of the world is little or small, whether we're living in abundance materially or just getting by, we're either way sheltered by an endless grace that covers all.

hello hello remember me?

The masculine urge to stock the house with boatloads of diapers for your baby.

(Go home Arc you're tipsy)