A transmedicalist and a racist walk into a ghazal.
by Sirrudeen Nahar
What don’t you like? Friend, take my knife
And close your eyes and cut away!
When all the flesh gets sent away
Like all the immigrants sent away—
What remains? What skull, what face
When all the flesh gets sent away?
Is it now a pleasing shape
When all the skin gets cut away?
Do I pass, look the part to say
“Please, please don’t take me away”?
And if you’ve still not gotten your way
Then go on, git the fuck away.
Sirrudeen Nahar (they/any) is a Muslim artist based in the Triangle. They experiment with different mediums to enflesh the ideas that compel them. You can see more of their work by following their social media: Instagram @sirrudeen and Bluesky @sirrudeen.bsky.social.