A Lebanese Story — The Lebanese uprising has failed. It started on October 17, 2019, with a people’s revolution, which petered out during 2020 with the banking crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, and then came to an abrupt and final end on August 4, 2020, when an explosion at the Beirut port damaged half…

In this part of the city the fog doesn’t hang around for very long. At dawn the sun comes out and wakes up the neighborhood and brings everyone out of their homes. There are children playing in the park, parents pushing strollers, people waiting for the bus, stoners standing outside…

Tripoli — The last time I went to Tripoli was over a year ago. My children played at the island park in the Al Mina neighborhood. We walked along the corniche. Children were shooting around on scooters. Older men sat together and smoked argile. There were hawkers; some sold cheap imitations of…

Jena is creating a self portrait for her portfolio. She likes using the smudge tool. She uses it to blend colors and to obscure imperfections. The portrait is a process of creation and annihilation; it’s full of innuendo and goes deep. On second glance, the self portrait looks more like…

Kate called late last night asking if I’d come with her to Beirut to pick up her cat. After the bombing, Kate’s landlord pleaded with her to leave the blown out apartment, until the damage was assessed, repairs were made and the apartment was deemed safe to live in. Kate…

A long time ago, when bees didn’t have wings and birds didn’t have beaks, when human beings were small and stout, there was a valley in the shadow of a snow capped mountain. They valley used to be verdant and bountiful. All the creatures who lived there had taken advantage…

Alex is riding his bike through town making deliveries for the post office. His backpack is heavier than usual; it’s a busy day for Sleepy Hollow. Alex thinks about the destination of his package, and his legs carry him there. His body has memorized the circuitous route of the roads…

Reedsy Prompt — ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but we are not, not in the least. Our country has been pulled inside out. Wages have been cut in half. Businesses like mine suffer. Many people have locked their shops and restaurants because there are no patrons, or out of fear of thieves…

Reedsy Prompt — When I woke up this morning, it was still dark outside. I had stayed up late studying for finals. It was close to 2am when I went to bed. I felt as though I hardly slept at all. Mom was in the kitchen preparing coffee, and making a lot of…