“bad copies” by Tina Zafreen Alam

Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “bad copies” by Tina Zafreen Alam.


bad copies

By Tina Zafreen Alam

soundtrack: untitled/fantastic instrumental, slum village

canโ€™t teach reading this instrument(al) anymore/than learning to breathe. heart learning to beat. by beat

by beat. & here a honing in (this feeling) you remind me thereโ€™s no way to hear without taking/it in (like

air) i mean thereโ€™s no music outside (my skin) & everything inside is moving. i mean you make me know

my cells shake & not take that for granted. the most beautiful things point to their own makings/know

they are bad copies/stay beautiful anyway


Copyright ยฉ Tina Zafreen Alam

Previously published in The American Poetry Review.

TINA ZAFREEN ALAM is a diasporic Bangladeshi poet who does not believe in space, time, or borders. She is calling on you to commit your heart, body, and soul to fighting for the liberation of Palestine and of all oppressed people around the globe. We owe it to ourselves, and to one another. Revolution until complete liberation for all of us, all together.


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