Email From Scheherazad by Mohja Kahf

Email From Scheherazad

Hi, habe. It's Scheherazad. I'm back

For the millennium and living in Hackensack,

New Jersey. I tell stories for a living.

You ask if there is a living in that.

You must remember: Where I come from,

Words are to die for. I saved the virgins

From beheading by the king, who was killing

To still the beast of doubt in him.

I told a story. He began to listen and I found

 That story led to story. Powers unleashed, I wound 

The thread around the pirn of night. A thousand days

 Later, we got divorced. He'd settled down

& wanted a wife & not so much an artist.

I wanted publication. It was hardest,

 Strangely, on my sister Dunyazad. She

 Was the one who nightly used to start it.

She and my ex do workshops now in schools

 On art & conflict resolution. Narrative rules!

I teach creative writing at Monclair State,

And I'm on my seventh novel and book tour.

Shahrayar and I share custody of our little girl.

We split up amicably. I taught him to heal

His violent streak through stories after all,

 And he helped me uncover my true call

                                                    Mohja Kahf