top of page

Another Way to Split Water by Alycia Pirmohamed is almost here!

Nov 11, 2022
1 min read

“Alycia Pirmohamed’s astute and moving poems dwell in a longing that’s a ‘pattern embossed’ on the skin. She transfigures yearning into intimacies with family, Canadian prairies, and rain that ‘knows how to fall in Gujarati.’ An intimacy with language is evident on each page: sonic-rich phrasing, imagery that leaps and soars, and an astonishing attentiveness to the line. Pirmohamed is an immensely gifted poet. Her first book is an opening, a marvel.” —Eduardo C. Corral, Guillotine


"In Alycia Pirmohamed’s first full-length collection, Another Way to Split Water, figures split, double, and even shatter through inheritances of migration..."

—Poetry Foundation


"This is how Another Way to Split Water moves, wending through ossuaries and great plains, making oxbow lakes of prayers and their origins, bifurcating desire and discovery til each word holds its own river. You will want to map the navigations of these poems. "

—Shivanee Ramlochan, Unkillable


Winner, 2020 Pamet River Prize, Alycia Pirmohamed's debut releases November 15. Go here for 20% off until then!



FADED


Say the word dark

translates to how I fold my body


like a fig

against a stippled moon.


Pull a string of sorrows from

my mouth.


Remind me that I am not a swan—


I am a long night of rain

with my mother’s eyes.


Hold my tasbih to my heart.


Imagine we are

elk walking into tall grass.


This dream is the sky opening.


This dream is a river of faces.


This dream is all of the pine trees

replaced with smoke.


I call out to the water and the wind

scatters my thoughts,


fashions distances within me.


I call out Allah—


if I look up, I see a ghost

in the canopy.

2,254 Comments


Mellow
3 days ago

I’ve noticed that understanding how generative AI works is becoming useful in many areas of everyday work and learning. Exploring Gen AI Courses in Chennai can be one way to become familiar with the tools and their practical applications. It’s interesting to see how these technologies continue to evolve and influence the way people approach different tasks.

Like

Mellow
4 days ago

Learning new skills and staying updated with changing technology has become increasingly important. Exploring options like AI Courses in Delhi can be one way to understand how AI is being used in different fields. It is interesting to see how these technologies continue to influence everyday tasks and professional practices.

Like

Mellow
6 days ago

I’ve noticed that learning new technologies has become a common topic in many discussions, especially as AI continues to influence different areas of work and everyday life. Exploring an Artificial Intelligence Course in Hyderabad can be one way to understand the subject better, while also gaining a clearer perspective on how these technologies are being used in practical situations.

Like

Reading https://tenpoundcasino.com made me think about how the poem treats splitting as a form of intimacy rather than loss, especially in that image of folding your body like a fig. I keep coming back to the line about rain with your mother's eyes, since it turns something as ordinary as weather into a kind of inheritance. It's the sort of collection I'd want to read slowly, one poem at a time, rather than all at once.

Like

The way poetry connects personal memories, family, and cultural identity with language is truly beautiful. Books like this remind us how meaningful it can be to explore different perspectives and experiences. In a similar way, Esse India highlights the importance of exploring new places, cultures, and opportunities beyond familiar surroundings.

Like

Newsletter Sign Up

Never miss a beat with our YesYes Books Newsletter.

YesYes Books

1631 Broadway St #121

Portland, OR 97232-1425

(503) 999-7790

  • Instagram - White Circle
  • Facebook - White Circle

©2028 by YesYes Books

Designed by KMA Sullivan and

Cole Hildebrand

bottom of page