Nazifa Reha

I tried my best,
As much as I could,
To understand you,
To love you,
To be a good mate,
And to stay for you,
For everything-
That belongs to you.

I stitched heaven and earth together,
Swore to God upon all His sacred things,
For your existence,
Your well-being,
Your return.

This was my final effort,
My ultimate stand.
I stood on the tips of my toes,
Stretched my hands high,
Hoping to revive these lifeless remains of hope once again.

But I don’t think-
I can endure much longer.
For some time now,
A dark and heavy cloud has anchored itself
above the sky of my heart.

Though it does not rain,
The wind from it is dry.
The roof of my heart has grown moldy,
Spiders have spun webs in its corners,
Rust has eaten away the pipes,
And the creaking of windows-
Has stolen sleep from my eyes.

Do you remember those delightful colors,
The joy that once filled the home of my heart?
They are now rotting away.

The trees of my hope have lost their vibrance,
Their last leaves on the verge of falling.
The meadow of memories behind my heart’s home
is withering.

And most importantly,
Little remains of that sacred throne,
The one meant only for you
To reign over the kingdom of my emotions.
Each time you respond with coldness,
Its fire burns even brighter.

I think the time has come
To let go of this attachment,
To slaughter my hope
and set it free.

•

Editor's Note:
Longing for one’s homeland is an ache that words struggle to contain. For those who have been uprooted, home is not just a place, it is a feeling, a lost embrace, a lingering scent in the air.

"Sweet Poison" is the cry of a heart caught between love and loss, between a past that refuses to fade and a present that offers no solace. Written by Nazifa Raha, a young Afghan writer, this poem is not just about unrequited love for a person, it is about a deeper, more painful yearning: the longing for a homeland that feels both near and impossibly distant.

This poem is a testament to those who love a place they can no longer touch, to those whose hearts beat to the rhythm of a land they may never return to. It is a farewell wrapped in longing, a sweet poison that lingers on the tongue of memory.

About the Author:
Nazifa Raha is a young Afghan writer who began her literary journey at the age of eighteen. After a brief pause, she returned to writing a year ago, capturing human experiences, cultural narratives, and societal struggles through her prose. Passionate about storytelling, she aspires to refine her craft and eventually venture into novel writing. Her works reflect the deep emotions of longing, injustice, and resilience, portraying both personal and collective realities. Writing solely in Persian, Nazifa hopes to share her voice with the world while staying true to her identity and heritage.