Sum of Worlds

Forgive me

that it left you broken too;

there isn't room enough in the universe

for a mother

to break and unbreak.

What is it like to have a conversation with yourself? Which worlds do you cross when you meet all parts of yourself, broken and whole, in a great and courageous reckoning? The places you have lived in-how do they change the contours of yourself? How do these altered geographies show up when the self unfurls? Sum of Worlds evokes these and many more thoughts that question the nature of the self as it shatters and is put together again.

'Rashid's poems are devastating, immediate, angry, and pulsating with an energy that took my breath away.'

- Shazaf Fatima Haider

'Through lyrical vignettes, Rashid explores themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection. This is recommended reading for poetry lovers.'

- Claire Chambers

'Smoldering and insurgent (.) An exhilarating collection shot through with wisdom and insight.'

-Waqas Khawaja

'A sharp and intricate mosaic of lived experience, shimmering with beauty, pain and resilience.'

- Shikha Malaviya

'There is defiance as well as longing in these poems that are woven together with the poet's cultural sensibilities.'

- Nabina Das