August 24, 2025 · Source: Medium
The Mirage and the Matchbox: Part 2
This is Part 2 of a four-part memoir series about my first months in UAE. Part 1 is here
Voice7
Lyric intensity7
The line8
Mind under feeling6
Held shape8
Literary mean 7.2 / 10
Highlights
The description of 'mattresses that smelled of other people’s sleep' is evocative.
Voice
The cynicism regarding the commute adds a necessary, authentic saltiness.
Lyric intensity
The image of 'yellow pillows piled high like a warning' is striking.
Mind under feeling
The 'self-reflection' on calling the mother she once resented shows real growth.
Held shape
The symmetry between the thousand dirhams and thirty dirhams creates strong rhythm.
Continue on Medium.
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