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Yesterday I Was the Moon
yesterday i was the moon is a collection of poetry by noor unnahar - it explores courage, self-love, culture and the struggles of making peace with your heart and art. it contains black & white photographs paired with poetry pieces; giving it a photo diary feels.
156 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2018
About the author
Noor Unnahar
4 books712 followersNoor Unnahar is a modern-day artist and poet whose work combines handwritten text, illustrations, tactile collage, and photography to illuminate themes of hope, home, self-love, culture, acceptance, and survival. Her poetry has been translated into a number of languages, which include published translations of her debut collection Yesterday I Was the Moon (Penguin Random House, 2018) in Dutch (Gisteren Was Ik De Maan, MUSE, 2019) and Chinese (Pan Press, 2021).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 885 reviews
March 23, 2020
Writing: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Style: 5/5
“yesterday — i was the moon
today — just an eclipse
something in me travels; some days it’s to the dark
some days it’s to the light”
yesterday i was the moon is a collection of poetry written by Noor Unnahar, a Pakistani author. This book explores a variety of themes including art, people, home, courage, self-love, strength, culture, acceptance and survival.
The actual layout of the book was stunning. There were the beautiful poems paired with incredible black and white photographs. This made the book feel more personal and almost like a journal.
The poems themselves resulted in me feeling speechless and in complete awe. I could read this book over and over again simply due to its beauty and how emotional these poems are.
“in pieces
yet at peace
i am a building
in a post war city”
These poems made me want to go and do something and not simply waste life. These poems give hope and strength for the future and this is expressed in the words used.
The writing is simplistic yet effective. I felt like I could connect with the words instead of feeling overwhelmed by heavy descriptions.
“i carry
the stories
the sadness
the victories
of people before me
i'm both a monument
and a future skyscraper
rising from the same skeleton”
The poems are in lowercase letters which I personally enjoyed. I felt like this simple and basic style made the poems easy to read and take in.
“i want stars, strength, and balance in my soul
it's been a while since they were last together in me”
“you are
the peace after wars
the calm after storms
and everything
insanely beautiful
that shapes after
a tragedy”
It is incredible and commendable to see how Noor Unnahar was able to express her life in a few simple words. As a reader, I was able to connect and relate to the poems. She was honest and showed no shame in showing who she was.
“next time i’m asked
about my confidence that glimmers
and whether it’s there in me because
the men of my family were too liberal
then i will tell them one thing
the men weren’t there when i was growing up
but women
they walk with grace and fire dances
with their cooking pans
their words are loud and eyes even louder;
woven with intelligence and history
the women in my family are shaped with
glass and love wrapped in silk
they teach their kids to speak with
kindness and firmness
so when they speak
they do so without hesitation”
I would recommend this book and I hope everyone takes a chance to read it. It is a beautiful book which deserves more recognition! I will definitely be reading it again and referring back to it!
June 5, 2020
It's been quite the minute since I last read a poetry collection, so when my eyes landed on this beauty of a book I was beyond keen on diving in.
yesterday i was the moon is a collection of poetry by noor unnahar - it explores courage, self-love, culture and the struggles of making peace with your heart and art. it contains black & white photographs paired with poetry pieces; giving it a photo diary feels.
Like many poetry books I've read and reviewed before, yesterday i was the moon starts off with the basic poems you encounter in the modern ones (like bearing similarities to the sun or a phoenix), so I wasn't as impressed with the first half. In particular, as I started noticing this pattern of including a bunch of description (usually three meaningless adjectives) but evoking no real emotions. Like so:
But as I started highlighting more and more poems, I noticed the author gaining confidence in her words once we were in the deeper half of the book. And that's when I really began enjoying my reading experience, especially those poems concerning religion, kindness, growth, and home. (Also, listening to this melody was magical.) And this is my segue into including some of my favorite poems and interspersed black & white illustrations:
Note: I’m an Amazon Affiliate. If you’re interested in buying yesterday i was the moon , just click on the image below to go through my link. I’ll make a small commission!
This review and more can be found on my blog.
December 2, 2020
yesterday—i was the moon
today—just an eclipse
something in me travels; some days it’s to
the dark
some days it’s to
the light
I was scrolling through my eBooks, clicked on this one, expecting nothing like I found inside. *i'm still screaming* Dear God help me, I'm so much in love with this book. with these words. I can't write how overwhelmed and awestruck I'm right now. This book is everything. It's like song that reminds you of your loss, your heartbreak, your pain and you get mad at the artist because they are voicing out everything you have ever tried to hide, tried to avoid. But, then it ends with this tune, soft and gentle, sounding like a lullaby that takes your pain and worries away and puts you into sleep you yearn for. This is how I felt with reading this book. Some lines were too brutal for me, I felt like the writer is holding my heart in her hands, examining it and telling me how and where it has been broken, shattered. And then gently put it back where it should be and... no I can't write coherently right now... just... I love it!
today—just an eclipse
something in me travels; some days it’s to
the dark
some days it’s to
the light
I was scrolling through my eBooks, clicked on this one, expecting nothing like I found inside. *i'm still screaming* Dear God help me, I'm so much in love with this book. with these words. I can't write how overwhelmed and awestruck I'm right now. This book is everything. It's like song that reminds you of your loss, your heartbreak, your pain and you get mad at the artist because they are voicing out everything you have ever tried to hide, tried to avoid. But, then it ends with this tune, soft and gentle, sounding like a lullaby that takes your pain and worries away and puts you into sleep you yearn for. This is how I felt with reading this book. Some lines were too brutal for me, I felt like the writer is holding my heart in her hands, examining it and telling me how and where it has been broken, shattered. And then gently put it back where it should be and... no I can't write coherently right now... just... I love it!
August 30, 2022
“i want stars, strength, and balance in my soul
it's been a while since they were last together in me.”
5 stars / 5 stars
i started leaning towards and enjoying poetry in the late autumn of i'd say 2017 or 2018. i cam across noor's digital presence around the said time and just felt connected to what ever she spurned out on ink and paper, via art or words, alike. i bought this book when i saw it was available in my region as well, despite the fact that it did indeed take me an year to get to it and finally read this piece of art.
“i share a legacy
with the sky
we both know how to carry
some unanswered prayers
and some unshed tears.
- {the sky & i}”
the way i've tabbed and highlighted and annotated almost every page is, to say the least, insane and expectant. like, her writing and just the way she strings these words in a sequence that tends to tug on one's soul, i don't know if what i'm writing here makes coherent sense but i feel like one really should pick her words and book up to sense these feelings for themselves. not to mention how stunning the cover and well anything with the word or art of 'moon' on it is already a hit for me 🥺.
the poetess comes from a place of raw and unhinged as well as rage-filled emotions that i not only understand well like the back of my hand but also somehow feel that i, myself, have coined these words. that's how it made me feel, like reading my own journal and thoughts i more often than not just tabulate in the haze of my brain racks.
one of my many favorites from the literature would be:
“you wanted to know about the art i created and the melancholy behind the words but i couldn’t tell you how and why those shades and words found their way on that crisp white graceful paper because sometimes some things do not have a story and artists spill their tears and blood and sweat on a canvas just so we could keep art alive even when we don’t have a story telling you why because if art were to be explained you would know how empty everything is; from creations to the hearts that created.”
if it wasn't already clear, i loved the aforementioned piece of poetics and would urge everyone to read it :)! definitely worthy of an experience. 🌔
it's been a while since they were last together in me.”
5 stars / 5 stars
i started leaning towards and enjoying poetry in the late autumn of i'd say 2017 or 2018. i cam across noor's digital presence around the said time and just felt connected to what ever she spurned out on ink and paper, via art or words, alike. i bought this book when i saw it was available in my region as well, despite the fact that it did indeed take me an year to get to it and finally read this piece of art.
“i share a legacy
with the sky
we both know how to carry
some unanswered prayers
and some unshed tears.
- {the sky & i}”
the way i've tabbed and highlighted and annotated almost every page is, to say the least, insane and expectant. like, her writing and just the way she strings these words in a sequence that tends to tug on one's soul, i don't know if what i'm writing here makes coherent sense but i feel like one really should pick her words and book up to sense these feelings for themselves. not to mention how stunning the cover and well anything with the word or art of 'moon' on it is already a hit for me 🥺.
the poetess comes from a place of raw and unhinged as well as rage-filled emotions that i not only understand well like the back of my hand but also somehow feel that i, myself, have coined these words. that's how it made me feel, like reading my own journal and thoughts i more often than not just tabulate in the haze of my brain racks.
one of my many favorites from the literature would be:
“you wanted to know about the art i created and the melancholy behind the words but i couldn’t tell you how and why those shades and words found their way on that crisp white graceful paper because sometimes some things do not have a story and artists spill their tears and blood and sweat on a canvas just so we could keep art alive even when we don’t have a story telling you why because if art were to be explained you would know how empty everything is; from creations to the hearts that created.”
if it wasn't already clear, i loved the aforementioned piece of poetics and would urge everyone to read it :)! definitely worthy of an experience. 🌔
August 7, 2017
the only poetry book I can read a hundred times <3
October 25, 2018
I am growing flowers
in the darkest part of my heart
for if the light ever enters
it would know where to start.
I think I'll be revisiting this book again, it's so beautifully written.
I least expected this but each & every line was soul-touching.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is remotely interested in reading poetry, it's strange to see that the book is not hugely recognized, but it doesn't matter, as long as it touches the hearts of people it comes to hold off.
Sharing some of the extracts from the book I felt deeply connected with:
in the darkest part of my heart
for if the light ever enters
it would know where to start.
I think I'll be revisiting this book again, it's so beautifully written.
I least expected this but each & every line was soul-touching.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is remotely interested in reading poetry, it's strange to see that the book is not hugely recognized, but it doesn't matter, as long as it touches the hearts of people it comes to hold off.
Sharing some of the extracts from the book I felt deeply connected with:
freedom is really expensive and no one will wrap it in a fancy paper to leave at your doorstep.
you will have to buy it with the currency of blood, sweat, and struggle.
it doesn’t twinkle like sparkly things.
it is often shaped like bruised knees and mourning skin.
but what makes it too precious is the fact that a lot of currencies will never be strong enough to bid for it.
this is where it becomes insanely priceless.
history I want it to reflect in my eyes
echo in my words
grown on my skin
for my mirror needs to know
where I come from
where I have been
and where I am going.
every single dream you’ve pushed into the ocean
praying that it dies and leaves you alone the water carries them;
breathing and alive you left them to wither
but their pieces wither in your dreams
live as long as the dreamers do.
the price of leaving is everything
you do not return to a place but to a memory;
soundless a home becomes another house
a face becomes another name
a city becomes another geographical location
when you leave.
January 26, 2021
15/07/19: Full review up. Ramping down my rating to 2 stars from the original 3 stars after giving some more thought and time to the book.
So to start off, in the interest of full disclosure I want to put something out there, lest I run the risk of being accused later. It’s kinda sad that I’ve been attacked by enough authors that I now doubt almost all new authors. Oh well..
Anyway, as I was saying, I found this book through the bookstagram feed that I was browsing. Then I looked up the book on GR and I found that I was interested enough to give it a try. So I decided to approach the author via email and ask for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. However I got no response. But being an ever hopeful guy, I tried again and approached the author through Instagram. Again, I got no response.
Now, I totally agree that giving out a free copy of her book is totally the author’s prerogative, and I respect it, but I was hoping for atleast a response, even if it was denial bcz I believe courtesy demands it. I could have chalked it up to the author not checking her emails or being inactive on the social media but I know for a fact that she is super active atleast on Instagram. But since I had already made up my mind that I want to read this book, I purchased a copy finally.
The reason for stating all this is to point out that in no way does any of this color my opinion of the book. My review and rating is just as honest as ever.
To begin with, I want to say something that might sound weird but from a purely consumer perspective it makes sense to me and I want to state it nonetheless. I’ve read a few poetry books in the last year and have purchased most of them and in a way I feel cheated. These books are short af despite the count of pages, not to mention that a lot of those pages are just crude drawings, and they cost almost as much and sometimes even more than a full length novel. I mean to say that somehow I feel that these books could be better priced considering they aren’t all that filling content wise. Just saying.
Talking about this book in particular now, I would like to mention that it has more drawings in it than any other poetry book that I have read till date, which means it is very short on content. It’s only 160 pages and has drawings on every 3rd page. Be as it may, let’s talk about the content. Now, if you were to ask me to give you a short review of this book, I’d tell you that this is a collection of social media poetry put together and published. The kind that you hit like on, ‘heart’ it maybe, and then move on and hours later forget you even read it.
In one word, uninspired!
It’s not without some spark and there are a few good pieces but then that’s all they are, pieces. But I am reading and reviewing a book. And judging it on the whole, I feel it’s far from anything great, let alone special. It leaves no impact and the words don’t carry much weight or conviction. It barely leaves with enough to want to write a detailed review. This book just is. It could be there and it could not be there, nothing will be lost or gained in any case.
The words in this book do not have power. They cannot make you really feel things and they cannot reach deep inside you to awaken something that’s been buried. This book is not a book that can touch you and in effect, stay with you for a long time. Not for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this book is bad or horrible or anything. No. I am sure many people enjoyed it a lot but it’s just not for me. I want more depth and emotion in the words that I will hold close to my heart and that I will want to remember and cherish. The words that call out to you long after you’ve read them, that’s my idea of beautiful writing. And this isn’t my kinda beautiful. That's all.
26/12/18: RTC
So to start off, in the interest of full disclosure I want to put something out there, lest I run the risk of being accused later. It’s kinda sad that I’ve been attacked by enough authors that I now doubt almost all new authors. Oh well..
Anyway, as I was saying, I found this book through the bookstagram feed that I was browsing. Then I looked up the book on GR and I found that I was interested enough to give it a try. So I decided to approach the author via email and ask for a review copy in exchange for an honest review. However I got no response. But being an ever hopeful guy, I tried again and approached the author through Instagram. Again, I got no response.
Now, I totally agree that giving out a free copy of her book is totally the author’s prerogative, and I respect it, but I was hoping for atleast a response, even if it was denial bcz I believe courtesy demands it. I could have chalked it up to the author not checking her emails or being inactive on the social media but I know for a fact that she is super active atleast on Instagram. But since I had already made up my mind that I want to read this book, I purchased a copy finally.
The reason for stating all this is to point out that in no way does any of this color my opinion of the book. My review and rating is just as honest as ever.
To begin with, I want to say something that might sound weird but from a purely consumer perspective it makes sense to me and I want to state it nonetheless. I’ve read a few poetry books in the last year and have purchased most of them and in a way I feel cheated. These books are short af despite the count of pages, not to mention that a lot of those pages are just crude drawings, and they cost almost as much and sometimes even more than a full length novel. I mean to say that somehow I feel that these books could be better priced considering they aren’t all that filling content wise. Just saying.
Talking about this book in particular now, I would like to mention that it has more drawings in it than any other poetry book that I have read till date, which means it is very short on content. It’s only 160 pages and has drawings on every 3rd page. Be as it may, let’s talk about the content. Now, if you were to ask me to give you a short review of this book, I’d tell you that this is a collection of social media poetry put together and published. The kind that you hit like on, ‘heart’ it maybe, and then move on and hours later forget you even read it.
In one word, uninspired!
It’s not without some spark and there are a few good pieces but then that’s all they are, pieces. But I am reading and reviewing a book. And judging it on the whole, I feel it’s far from anything great, let alone special. It leaves no impact and the words don’t carry much weight or conviction. It barely leaves with enough to want to write a detailed review. This book just is. It could be there and it could not be there, nothing will be lost or gained in any case.
The words in this book do not have power. They cannot make you really feel things and they cannot reach deep inside you to awaken something that’s been buried. This book is not a book that can touch you and in effect, stay with you for a long time. Not for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this book is bad or horrible or anything. No. I am sure many people enjoyed it a lot but it’s just not for me. I want more depth and emotion in the words that I will hold close to my heart and that I will want to remember and cherish. The words that call out to you long after you’ve read them, that’s my idea of beautiful writing. And this isn’t my kinda beautiful. That's all.
26/12/18: RTC
July 21, 2019
Beautiful!
May 10, 2019
_____________
"i am building
a house
where the floor is
made up of strength
where the walls are
crafted of ambition
where the roof is
a masterpiece of forgiveness
i am building
myself"
_____________
Sensational, heart-touching and veracious words. Noor Unnahar us anothing inspiring, creative and talented Pakistani writer and poet who has in Yestersay I Was Moon blown her readers away with the truth her words ring with and how brutal and crystal they are in delivering their message in a clear, concise and heart touching way. I recommend her to everyone!
"i am building
a house
where the floor is
made up of strength
where the walls are
crafted of ambition
where the roof is
a masterpiece of forgiveness
i am building
myself"
_____________
Sensational, heart-touching and veracious words. Noor Unnahar us anothing inspiring, creative and talented Pakistani writer and poet who has in Yestersay I Was Moon blown her readers away with the truth her words ring with and how brutal and crystal they are in delivering their message in a clear, concise and heart touching way. I recommend her to everyone!
May 22, 2020
This is too deep for me to process.
Like literally.
to the person who
will want to fall in love with me
i have been a sky all my life
full of life and light and anger
if you’re not coming with
thunderstorms; do not come
at all
Uh...
Yeah that's what I meant ✌️
Like literally.
to the person who
will want to fall in love with me
i have been a sky all my life
full of life and light and anger
if you’re not coming with
thunderstorms; do not come
at all
Uh...
Yeah that's what I meant ✌️
June 4, 2019
It's a NO for me.
This just felt like a bunch of phrases put together. I'm sorry to say that only a handful of poems resonated in some meaningful way to me. Something I found really nice though was the simple artwork included in this poetry collection. I don't think I'll be reading something by this author in the future.
This just felt like a bunch of phrases put together. I'm sorry to say that only a handful of poems resonated in some meaningful way to me. Something I found really nice though was the simple artwork included in this poetry collection. I don't think I'll be reading something by this author in the future.
September 27, 2018
Since I write *cough* poetry *cough* I'm reading more and more recently. And I really liked 'Yesterday I was the moon'. It had this resilient feel to it. Like the author is making an armor using her words. Also It RHYMES. These days a lot of modern poetry doesn't actually rhyme. Which is kind of sad.
Definitely recommended if you're a lover of poetry.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderfull day.
Definitely recommended if you're a lover of poetry.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderfull day.
April 6, 2018
This is just an honest review about how I felt.
I'm a massive modern poetry fan. "Insta Poetry" as some like to call it.
I like the millennial angst; I am said millennial.
I like the socially acceptable dive into sadness; I often need something to tip me over the edge so that I can deal with my issues.
I like the stark reality of relationships in poetry, written in ways that makes you examine the feelings you may have felt once; because relationships are hard and I need to feel like someone understands.
In saying that, I don't think I like this one. Not because I didn't relate to any of it, I did. On occasion I felt connected to the words. I just didn't like the overall simplicity of the book. I didn't like that some of the poems conveyed the exact same message, only written differently.
I think the cover and the title is what initially caught my attention, but I don't think this will become a favourite.
I'm a massive modern poetry fan. "Insta Poetry" as some like to call it.
I like the millennial angst; I am said millennial.
I like the socially acceptable dive into sadness; I often need something to tip me over the edge so that I can deal with my issues.
I like the stark reality of relationships in poetry, written in ways that makes you examine the feelings you may have felt once; because relationships are hard and I need to feel like someone understands.
In saying that, I don't think I like this one. Not because I didn't relate to any of it, I did. On occasion I felt connected to the words. I just didn't like the overall simplicity of the book. I didn't like that some of the poems conveyed the exact same message, only written differently.
I think the cover and the title is what initially caught my attention, but I don't think this will become a favourite.
October 20, 2017
to the person who
will want to fall in love with me
i have been a sky all my life
full of life and light and anger
if you're not coming with
thunderstorms; do not come
at all
i love poetry and i love this. i tabbed so many poems bc they were all so beautiful and woww she is just so talented im in awe
will want to fall in love with me
i have been a sky all my life
full of life and light and anger
if you're not coming with
thunderstorms; do not come
at all
i love poetry and i love this. i tabbed so many poems bc they were all so beautiful and woww she is just so talented im in awe
April 14, 2018
"art doesn't ask
to be perfect
poetic
precise
it asks to exist
to breathe
to be
this is what it has always been about" (p. 75)
I've been really determined to stay open to the different styles and new ideas appearing in poetry, and have been trying to stay more in the know about what titles are published annually. "Yesterday I Was the Moon" caught my eye because of its title and promising summary, and though I really not a fan of "Insta/Tumblr poetry" - my experience of reading poetry by Kaur, Lovelace, Faudet, and Leav was less than exciting - I still decided to approach Unnahar with cautious optimism.
Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that different in this collection as well, compared to the poets mentioned above. A quarter of the collection was as much as I could take before my interest waned, and at the halfway point is where I got antsy. A quarter was enough for me to get the jist of the rest of the collection, as the rest didn't stray too far from what was said earlier. What was especially sad for me was that I quite liked the poems in which Unnahar talked about her background, her language, her experience, such as the poem "Nanaz", which was dedicated to the daily prayers. The case for the stylistic choices can be made about all the poems, some more than others, but for poems like "Nanaz" I was less interested in that and more so in hearing Unnahar talk more about her experience and herself. It was poems like these that got buried in the rest of the fluff, some of which had good ideas but poor execution/wording, and others which seemed like another dime a dozen poem that one would quickly double tap on Instagram to like and then move past, forgetting about it.
Reading these poems aloud with my partner helped, but it made the awkwardness and simplicity of the collection that much more obvious. We had a shared frustration over the consistent incorrect use of the semicolon, whereas in other poems he pointed out quotes from movies and books, characters like Yoda and others, which had the same lines or ideas. It made reading more bearable but really emphasized all shortcomings of the collection.
"Yesterday I Was the Moon" has good intentions but is really short on execution. There are poets like Kaveh Akbar, who provided a blurb on the back cover of the book, which cover some of the same topics in a much more eloquent and original manner, and which are worth numerous revisits because each reread uncovers a new layer and one notices new details. Unnahar's own words are a solid enough argument for this:
"words; they're powerfully powerful
so use yours
well" (p. 65)
to be perfect
poetic
precise
it asks to exist
to breathe
to be
this is what it has always been about" (p. 75)
I've been really determined to stay open to the different styles and new ideas appearing in poetry, and have been trying to stay more in the know about what titles are published annually. "Yesterday I Was the Moon" caught my eye because of its title and promising summary, and though I really not a fan of "Insta/Tumblr poetry" - my experience of reading poetry by Kaur, Lovelace, Faudet, and Leav was less than exciting - I still decided to approach Unnahar with cautious optimism.
Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that different in this collection as well, compared to the poets mentioned above. A quarter of the collection was as much as I could take before my interest waned, and at the halfway point is where I got antsy. A quarter was enough for me to get the jist of the rest of the collection, as the rest didn't stray too far from what was said earlier. What was especially sad for me was that I quite liked the poems in which Unnahar talked about her background, her language, her experience, such as the poem "Nanaz", which was dedicated to the daily prayers. The case for the stylistic choices can be made about all the poems, some more than others, but for poems like "Nanaz" I was less interested in that and more so in hearing Unnahar talk more about her experience and herself. It was poems like these that got buried in the rest of the fluff, some of which had good ideas but poor execution/wording, and others which seemed like another dime a dozen poem that one would quickly double tap on Instagram to like and then move past, forgetting about it.
Reading these poems aloud with my partner helped, but it made the awkwardness and simplicity of the collection that much more obvious. We had a shared frustration over the consistent incorrect use of the semicolon, whereas in other poems he pointed out quotes from movies and books, characters like Yoda and others, which had the same lines or ideas. It made reading more bearable but really emphasized all shortcomings of the collection.
"Yesterday I Was the Moon" has good intentions but is really short on execution. There are poets like Kaveh Akbar, who provided a blurb on the back cover of the book, which cover some of the same topics in a much more eloquent and original manner, and which are worth numerous revisits because each reread uncovers a new layer and one notices new details. Unnahar's own words are a solid enough argument for this:
"words; they're powerfully powerful
so use yours
well" (p. 65)
August 11, 2018
What happened to good old poetry that is more art and less like a tumblr feed? I got the book as a present but still was expecting something substantial in the book but failed to find anything worthy. This is just similar to what Rupi Kaur or any other modern poet writes (barely any sentence structure and verses that show no rhyme or reason). All I read throughout was some wannabe poet trying to move my soul with references from the city Karachi, and I get it that times have been tough because I am from Pakistan too and it isn't all roses in any city. This is just a bunch of cliche references. This quasi-philosophical/semi-inspirational Tumblr bullshit needs to stop infecting the art of poetry. Poetry is saying too much in too little words, but here I see empty words and superficial thoughts
I could not find anything gut-wrenching or hopeful in this book.
I could not find anything gut-wrenching or hopeful in this book.
October 12, 2019
my mother named me
light; the first rays starting the day
and there are days
when i forget there is light at all
this name then becomes
a remimder how
the woman who raised me
named me after something
so glorious; it shines
and even on my darkest days
i am the light i should be looking for
{NOOR}
I LOVED THIS BOOK😭❤️
light; the first rays starting the day
and there are days
when i forget there is light at all
this name then becomes
a remimder how
the woman who raised me
named me after something
so glorious; it shines
and even on my darkest days
i am the light i should be looking for
{NOOR}
I LOVED THIS BOOK😭❤️
June 21, 2018
I went into this one with high hopes because taking from all I've seen by Noor on social media, this should have been a visual and textual delight.
Disappointing, underwhelming, kind of like a Tumblr feed in book form.
Disappointing, underwhelming, kind of like a Tumblr feed in book form.
June 17, 2018
I just opened Yesterday I Was the Moon to see if they were as bad as I remember. I landed on "be kind/for this is something/a lot of people/can never be". That's a poem. Now, if that appeals, then Yesterday I Was the Moon probably will too. Personally I can't remember reading anything quite so trite and superficial in a long time, in any form. Unnahar poetry seems to tread the ground between self-help books, pseudo-philosophy and fortune cookie advices. They seem spontaneous and over simple and, while spontaneity can be a wonderful quality in art (in literature, in music, in film) and an antidote to modern over-production and laborious over-thinking, near it comes across as throw-away. The collection reflects Unnahar's online presence and reflects my own dislike of online self-presentation.
Certain gimmicks irritate from the start. The lack of capitalisation, even the word i, would seem to serve no purpose except to attempt to look cool. The personal address ('you' or imperative poems like the one above) give the poems an annoying, preachy feel, an almost invasive tone. A writer has to really have something new to say to risk that kind of reader involvement. It tramples on a reader's privacy, on their intelligence. It makes interpretations impossible. It's not a coincidence that the best poems here are the ones where the poet herself appears and reveals something of her self or her culture. It makes you realise that behind these slapdash poems there is a true personality with things to say and opinions to express. One could argue that the 'you' in these poems is unclear; it could be a friend, a mother, a lover, an immigrant. But too many of them tred the same ground and refuse to go deeper. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be specific. It gives writing character, makes it unique.
Safe to say I didn't like Yesterday I Was the Moon. It reflects, perhaps, popular trends and "likes" but also something of the hollow, disposible nature of internet art. It's not a case of "anyone could do it", not at all. But I've read poetry by quite a few unpublished poets, people who would never dream of presenting their work online in this manner, who can summon up more artistic merit in a single well-thought out stanza that this collection manages in a 100 forgettable poems. 1
Certain gimmicks irritate from the start. The lack of capitalisation, even the word i, would seem to serve no purpose except to attempt to look cool. The personal address ('you' or imperative poems like the one above) give the poems an annoying, preachy feel, an almost invasive tone. A writer has to really have something new to say to risk that kind of reader involvement. It tramples on a reader's privacy, on their intelligence. It makes interpretations impossible. It's not a coincidence that the best poems here are the ones where the poet herself appears and reveals something of her self or her culture. It makes you realise that behind these slapdash poems there is a true personality with things to say and opinions to express. One could argue that the 'you' in these poems is unclear; it could be a friend, a mother, a lover, an immigrant. But too many of them tred the same ground and refuse to go deeper. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to be specific. It gives writing character, makes it unique.
Safe to say I didn't like Yesterday I Was the Moon. It reflects, perhaps, popular trends and "likes" but also something of the hollow, disposible nature of internet art. It's not a case of "anyone could do it", not at all. But I've read poetry by quite a few unpublished poets, people who would never dream of presenting their work online in this manner, who can summon up more artistic merit in a single well-thought out stanza that this collection manages in a 100 forgettable poems. 1
October 11, 2022
lovely
"with this thunder in your heart / and melancholy in your art"
"dreams live long as the dreamers do"
"with this thunder in your heart / and melancholy in your art"
"dreams live long as the dreamers do"
January 6, 2021
One of my most favourite poetry anthologies ever.
The lines are perfect and very relatable. Emotions described well. Genuine and mesmerizing.
However I had some issues with a few lines of a particular poem regarding some words hinting to acceptance of women being kept confined or restricted to the rules of a particular society.
The lines are perfect and very relatable. Emotions described well. Genuine and mesmerizing.
However I had some issues with a few lines of a particular poem regarding some words hinting to acceptance of women being kept confined or restricted to the rules of a particular society.
March 31, 2022
listening to Billie Eilish while reading this >>>>>
this collectin of poems explores self-love, moving on, acceptance, beauty of the world, survival, kindness, loving others
it’s beautifully written and very calming to read
this collectin of poems explores self-love, moving on, acceptance, beauty of the world, survival, kindness, loving others
it’s beautifully written and very calming to read
August 3, 2017
When I first read Noor's poems on her Instagram, I immediately fell in love. Although English is not her first language, Noor has the power to create beautiful poetry. For me, her words motivate me to get out of bed every day and do something great with my life. I love how Noor can take her pain and change it into something beautiful. What I find unique about it, is how Noor has the courage to write about her life in an honest way, without any shame, fear or whatsoever. This is why I totally recommend you to buy this book! It's amazing, I promise.
August 6, 2018
this was so lovely to read. i wish some of them were more hard-hitting - she definitely hints at emotion rather than using devastating words that show her emotion (which are my favorite, by the way). i would've given this 4 stars usually, but in this day and age, god it felt SO good to read some kind and lovely words. here is my favorite:
i want stars, strength, and balance in my soul
it’s been a while since they were last
together in me
P.S. the illustrations were beautiful, i just felt like they didn't really add anything deeper to the collection.
i want stars, strength, and balance in my soul
it’s been a while since they were last
together in me
P.S. the illustrations were beautiful, i just felt like they didn't really add anything deeper to the collection.
March 15, 2019
-smoothly flowing verse reaching at the heart with sensible meanings
'i am building
a house
where the floor is
made up of strength
where the walls are
crafted of ambition
where the roof is
a masterpiece of forgiveness
i am building myself'
'nothing teaches better
than this trio
the fears, the tears, the years
{the golden trio}'
January 24, 2019
I could sniff her middle eastern soul before finding out her motherland.
I'm still struggling with this kind of poetry. I can't tell if these are quality poems or just beautiful but sentimental and dramatic lines to describe my broken heart and what I'm going through.
But I guess it's the pleasure that counts in the end.
I'm still struggling with this kind of poetry. I can't tell if these are quality poems or just beautiful but sentimental and dramatic lines to describe my broken heart and what I'm going through.
But I guess it's the pleasure that counts in the end.
August 17, 2021
Dutch translation of my debut poetry collection, yesterday i was the moon.
December 27, 2018
Personal interpretation:
I totally valuate this kind of writings; the act of recording of events written by a person having an intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation.
This kind of "intimate" memoir is the best for me. I find truthfulness and trueheartedness within such notes.
Hence, Thanks Noor Unnahar (such a cute name!)
***
my mother's name
translates into
the sun of the women
she named me
noor unnahar
light of the day
i shine when i want to
i burn when i have to
the sun named me light; i know
how to dwell in the sky
with eclipses and stars
(shams un-nisa)
my mother named me
light; the first ray starting the day
and there are days
when i forget there is
light at all
this name then becomes
a reminder how
the woman who raised me
named me after something
so glorious; it shines
and even on my darkest days
i am the light i should be looking for
(noor)
***
yesterday - i was the moon
today - just an eclipse
something in me travels; some days it's to
the dark
some days it's to
the light
***
i am building
a house
where the floor is
made up of strength
where the walls are
crafted of ambition
where the roof is
masterpiece of forgiveness
i am building
myself
***
i am the rage
left unspoken
unheard
unfortunately
by the women before me
so i write a lot and speak
a little firmly
giving life to the words that never
made it out of their mouths
***
nothing teaches better
than this trio
the fears, the tears, the years
***
learn to lose
and
it will teach you how
winning works
***
it only take
a second or two
to look into their eyes
and decide
whether you're home
or at just another
perfectly decorated house
***
i walk on two bridges everyday
one is easy; like my mother tongue
the other is scary; like a foreign language
it creaks
and my soul is split
between these two bridges
i cannot stop sounding
like the language i grew up with
and i cannot stop speaking
this foreign language
for it helps me
survive
(bilingual)
***
like the anger of fire
shapes metal
like the sorrow of a writer
creates poetry
everything that is beautiful
doesn't always start
beautifully
***
in pieces
yet at peace
i am building
in a post-war city
***
a piece of cloth on my head
screams an identity
louder than words printed
on any document
even the sky outside knows
where i come from
(hijab)
***
the idea of destruction
keeps running through my veins like blood
yet my bones hold the will to create
everyday blood and bones in me clash
to create something; to destroy something
***
i am growing flowers
in the darkest part of my heart
for if light ever enters
it would know where to start
***
October 16, 2019
5/5 stars
Rereading it and its just as good as it was the first time around.
============
5/5 stars
“in pieces
yet at peace
i am a building
in a post war city”
Such a beautiful book on modern poetry by a Pakistani Author. Each and every poem was relatable and for me, that's a first! Looking forward to reading more books from Noor Unnahar.
“the kind people
are running this world
they don't know how
their one little smile
has saved many lives”
Rereading it and its just as good as it was the first time around.
============
5/5 stars
“in pieces
yet at peace
i am a building
in a post war city”
Such a beautiful book on modern poetry by a Pakistani Author. Each and every poem was relatable and for me, that's a first! Looking forward to reading more books from Noor Unnahar.
“the kind people
are running this world
they don't know how
their one little smile
has saved many lives”
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