“Say Bismillah,” (2024).

This piece was created for Tabadul Collective’s second published zine, Poems for Dinner. Using ingredients like okra, dates, figs, and pomegranate, I explore the connections between different parts of the world through food. Across cultures, Muslims say Bismillah before eating—a phrase that translates to 'In the name of Allah,' honoring the blessing of a meal. And just as food brings people together, so does the ritual of chai, often enjoyed as a digestif to close a meal with warmth and reflection.