unwritten by Zaïnab El Meziani

unwritten by Zaïnab El Meziani

Author: Maggie Devers July 18, 2025 Duration: 2:31

unwritten

Zaïnab El Meziani

Edited by Nabiha Qureshi

my words i speak them
and sing all of me
i breathe them
with suffocating lungs
i stand in the middle of nowhere
and write them
i then break them and hide them
under a sad sunset
and all of the sepultures
could never paint my agony

when i bury my soul
in the fearful woods
i become the child of
rhymes that have never been
i am now death
behind the eyes of pain
i dance alone in the darkness
of silent nights
feeling the truths of
my prosaic drawings
tasting the bitterness of
this void once so sweet

silence, speak
speak for my blood is cold
speak for my heart is a lie
and my lungs are smoke
and i cannot leave my words
to the sun
i need to see feathers
writing my songs
i need to feel your sight
i need to be

More from Zaïnab El Meziani


Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO


Each day, One Poem Only offers a brief, deliberate pause. Hosted by Maggie Devers, this podcast is built on a simple, consistent premise: a single poem, read aloud, without analysis or introduction. It’s an audio space where the words themselves are the event, a performance meant to be absorbed in the few minutes it takes to hear it. The daily rhythm of the show creates a quiet ritual, a point of reflection woven into a busy life. You might hear a classic sonnet, a piece of modern free verse, or a work from a poet you’ve never encountered. The selection is varied, touching on themes from the natural world to the intricacies of human emotion, always leaving room for your own interpretation. The effect is cumulative; listening regularly becomes a subtle form of education in the sound and scope of poetry, and a small act of self-care. This isn't a lecture or a book club, but a performing art delivered directly to your ears. Maggie’s clear, thoughtful readings provide the only framework needed, allowing each poem to stand entirely on its own. The curtain falls, and the moment passes, but the podcast invites you to return tomorrow when a new piece takes center stage, offering another quiet moment, one poem only.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 355

One Poem Only
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