Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

Nov 21, 2024 | people.com | Jason de Léon |Lena Khalaf Tuffaha |Lin King |Rachel Raposas

Host Kate McKinnon and fiction winner Percival Everett. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty (2) The 2024 National Book Awards were presented to winners in fiction, nonfiction, young people's literature and translated literature, as well as awards for lifetime achievement and service to the literary community. Comedian and author Kate McKinnon emceed the event and Jon Batiste performed as the musical guest.

Nov 5, 2024 | proteanmag.com | Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

A cabinet of curiosities A conundrum A closed circuit A cost-cost analysis A distance between us A carnival atmosphere A crash landing A lowest common denominator Another day the administration does not make the call to stop the bombs A cage in which we pace A chiaroscuro of the dream Empire’s curtain call A casting out A kiss after death The eve of calumny Our humble offering to the national altar The last day, we are told, it might be easier to organize A continuance A carte blanche A cloak...

Jun 17, 2024 | seattlemet.com | Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

If you say it softly/if you linger in the vowels/there is precedent/in tajweed the tradition/is incantatory/even though you don’t/call it song/if you count/six beats for every long/alef/like lifting a prayer up to the sky/like hoisting a body above the ruins/and the arms raised up in praise/in grieving/praise/if you choose/a softer word here/read a poem about/love instead/if you add the word/if you loosen the grip/if you say it/ in Arabic/say it in Arabic/in Arabic whisper/choose the one that...

May 16, 2024 | wordswithoutborders.org | Igiaba Scego |Lena Khalaf Tuffaha |Nina Perrotta

Beloved, how to describe your laughter? If I could, I would describe the moment you suddenly burst with joy. Your husky and almost masculine laugh softening with every second. As sacred as gold, frankincense, and myrrh. “Say hello to your edo,” your father told you. I’m your edo, your paternal aunt. We were together when you called him on Messenger. Together when you appeared on the screen like the Madonna. Together when you smiled at us, Soraya. Your father, Moh, is passing through Rome.

Apr 13, 2024 | proteanmag.com | Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

Garden Varietytorn down sonnet, rebuiltOnce the debris of Palestinian homesis cleared, the settlers will install an arkin a landscaped garden. Automatizedcouples—deer, sheep, camels, and elephants—are lined up to board the vessel. Debaterages about zebras, tigers. Stripes havevisual appeal, their pelts against limestonehills. What’s at stake is authenticity. Did the Lord require seven of everyanimal, or seven categories,in which zebra is a kind of horse, catsmight be tigers?