Title: Yesterday I Was The Moon
Author: Noor Unnahar
Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Publisher
Rating: 4/5
Yesterday I was the Moon is a fascinating collection of poems. Enriched with the significance of human existence, the poems are full of bravery. The poems portray the idea of having an aim and strength to achieve it. One of the poems is adorned by the motive behind her writings. The poem goes like this –
i am the rage
left unspoken
unheard
unfortunately
by the women before me
so i write a lot and speak
a little firmly
giving life to the words
that never made it out of their mouths
Through one poem, the poet has illustrated the meaning of her name and why and how she got her name. Poetess name means light of the day. In this book, the poetess has portrayed an image of a human and what one is. One of the poems depicting this is –
you are
the peace after wars
the calm after storms
and everything
insanely beautiful
that shapes after
a tragedy
Some of the poems illustrate the value of precious time. How the time passes, making us stronger. And how it is important to make a few decisions of your life within a limited time.
One of the poems is –
it only takes
a second or two
to look into their eyes
and decide
whether you’re home
or at just another
perfectly decorated house
There are many pictures portraying the essence of the poems in this book. In one of her poems, the poetess has described the importance that the world gives to the hijab, a mere cloth to cover a face.
The poem goes like this –
a piece of cloth on my head
screams an identity
louder than words printed
on any document
even the sky outside knows
where i come from
About the Author
Noor Unnahar is a modern-day artist and poet whose work combines handwritten text, tactile collage, and photography to illuminate themes of hope, home, self-love, culture, acceptance, and survival.
