Andrea’s Return by Muhammad Khurram

I
carried home in a flood of tears
memories, lying on the floor
like dirty clothes
your smell still lingers
and, how I wish it would clog my nose

II
UTC+1 to UTC-6
traveling back in time
to feel your presence envelop me
in the house that cradled me
your lap, a good night’s sleep
a dream often dreamt
as the memories creep on me, stilling my breath
mami, ¿me sientes?

Written in memory of Andrea Gómez Recinos’s mami who became a star on 13-9-2023.

Muhammad Khurram (they/he) is a queer artist-academic, and an aspiring therapist, seeking to work more in community-focused artistic-research spaces. Consequently, their research interests lie at the intersection of disability studies, environmentalism, and decolonial studies. Lastly, they have a deep-seated fondness for poetry and faith in faith for a better world.