My Mother’s Tongue - Ria. Y

poetry ☆

poetry ☆

O' to dive into Arabic poetry.

To swim deep into its vast oceans.

Feeling the cold water brushing against my skin,

redirecting me,

To dive deep alongside the seahorses.

As sea corals wrap around me,

Pulling me down.

I'll gladly follow.

To dive deeper down to my heart,

Re-explore its alphabets that I learned.

Re-listen to its pronunciation, which I have long forgotten.

To be reminded how every letter left a sugary aftertaste.

The rhythm it's spoken in will forever be my ongoing lullaby.

O' to be fluent in my mother's tongue.

---

Writing under the pen name Ria, she focuses on themes of longing and emotions that feel just out of reach. Writing is a private practice for her, and she usually shares my work with friends rather than on social media. Ria is based in Saudi Arabia, and this is her first publication.