I Failed to Water It
How is war born? By the bullet of a rifle—or by a mind surrendering to the failures of humanity? Delicate poems and illustrations render the fragility of personhood in a life born of a war. This collection of seven original poems bids no farewell to Gaza. Both soul and homeland stand in ruins, scorched and riven apart. But a poet’s heart refuses to relinquish the bond of love between language and land.
Editions: English
Dedication
To Gaza— I am still walking on your land, while missing you with every step.
To the displaced— may the road home find you before you forget its name.
To you, who holds these pages— may you never have to learn what it means to lose a place you love.
Message to the Reader
A homeland is not only a place. It is the smell of your mother’s cooking, streets your feet learned by heart, and memories hiding in every corner.
And when it is taken.. suddenly, violently you learn that homeland was never soil alone, but everything you loved inside it.
If you are reading this, stay close to yours. One day, memory may be all that remains.
These pages were not written in order. They were formed in fragments between sirens, memories, and moments when silence felt heavier than noise.
Sample Text and Illustrations
Request for Recognition
Gaza has been under an intellectual embargo for decades. We ask members of the literary community to lend the strength of their voices to our authors. This zine has yet to receive words of recommendation. If you are an established author willing to read and recommend this zine, email us at coastallinespress@gmail.com to receive a digital or hard copy.
About the Author
Nourhan R. Abushahin is a Palestinian writer from Gaza. Her works explore inner emotions that exist beyond clear definition, giving voice to what is often felt but rarely named.
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