ANUM SATTAR - POEMS

Anum Sattar is a recent graduate from College of Wooster in Ohio, USA. 

Her poems have been published in the American Journal of Poetry (Margie), Deep Overstock, Daily Haiga, Under the Basho, Indicia: a journal curating literary arts, Calliope by Writers’ Special Interest Group (SIG) of American Mensa Ltd, Modern Haiku, Blazevox, Harbinger Asylum, Visitant, Social Alternatives Journal, Foxtrot Uniform, Voice of Eve, Notre Dame Review, GUSTS, Porter Gulch Review, Midway Journal, Willard & Maple, Meniscus Journal by Australian Association of Writing Programs, Indianapolis Review, Lullwater Review, Rat’s Ass Review, North Dakota Quarterly, IDK Magazine, Door is a Jar, Ribbons, South Florida Poetry Journal, Typehouse Literary Magazine, Charles Cater: a working anthology, 50 Haikus, Stuck in the Library, Broadkill Review, Poetry Life and Times, Triggerfish Critical Review, Packingtown Review, Blithe Spirit, Mythic Circle, HOBART, SurVision Magazine, Literary Juice, Coal City Review, Crack the Spine, Lowestoft Chronicle, Taj Mahal Review, FIVE 2 ONE: An Art and Literary Journal, Linnet's Wings, Ragazine, Better than Starbucks, Florida Review, Snow Jewel Journal by Grey Sparrow Press, Oddball Magazine, Artifact Nouveau, Off the Coast, Strange POEtry, Between These Shores Literary & Arts Annual, Conceit Magazine, A New Ulster, Cannon's Mouth, Journal of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry, Wilderness House Literary Review, Poydras Review, Cadaverine, Verbalart: A Global Journal Devoted to Poets & Poetry, Wayne Literary Journal, Ibis Head Review, Avocet: A Journal of Nature Poems, Poets Bridge, Deltona Howl and Tipton Poetry Journal. 

She won the first Grace Prize and third Vonna Hicks poetry awards at the college. 

She read out her work at Brooklyn Poets, Spoonbill and Sugartown Bookstore, Forest Hills Library in New York City, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center at Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Bridgewater College in Shenandoah Valley, VA, Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA, Barnes & Noble, Webster, Texas, (sponsored by Cosmic Poets Society) and Cholla Needles’ Shelter-In-Place Open Readings. 

She was recently interviewed at 17 Numa, Houston Pacifica Radio 90.1 FM KPFT and Radio Free Brooklyn. 

Haibun: 

Truly Small ​

His dream was to guilt trip a large-chested and small-assed female with whom to suck face. 

So then, wannabe Harvey Weinstein blew his overtime pay: 

To host a gullible woman like me at his rundown apartment... 
Set me up as a featured reader at Barnes & Noble... 
Cover his share of a fancy dinner at Spindle Top in Houston, TX... 

and more to achieve a childhood goal. 

All the while a current love interest was imprisoned for driving under the influence of alcohol. 

When I scoffed at his stubby penis, he accused me for leading him on to write a haibun. 

indie publisher 
he pulls out a strapless bra 
from the New Yorker bag 
when I ask for sneakers 
to change out of heels 

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN DEEP OVERSTOCK

Somonka: 

weeping willow ​

is it shame of making love 
to a low ranking general 
that your fingers tremble 
while undoing my sash? 


silly foot soldier 
I would scream in delight 
being taken from behind 
were your overweight wife 
not peeping through the blinds! 



It was common in the Edo period for Oirans or Japanese courtesans to have professional names inspired by scenes from nature: “young willow,” “budding willow,” “bright rock,” “spring rain,” “morning chrysanthemum,” etc. 

The shogun affectionately called his mistress a “weeping willow” mistakenly believing that she was uncomfortable in his presence. 

​​PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN DEEP OVERSTOCK