0. Dedications & Acknowledgements

Ode To Heart Break

Dec 31, 2022

∙ Paid

Dedicated to every person tending to a broken heart,

to every family that broke,

to every doctor that has suffered on the job,

and to every Palestinian that continues to suffer in this world.

Special thanks

to Eve Shapiro and Stacie Blanke for reading the Beta and giving me the feedback that made this book what it is. To everyone that gave me space to read out a poem to in the past few months.

to the incredibly gifted Jessica Hylek for the book cover design.

to Paul Kist, Khaled Sallam, Sherin Wafaai and Riitta Kamel for helping me believe this crazy idea that I am a good writer.

More Dedications:

To S: This book has 33 poems! Thanks for the magic of both being with you, and breaking up with you.

To R: My healing is now complete. May yours be as well.

To A: You were right about the balls of light. Sorry for my skepticism.

To Egypt: I forgive you and I love you and I will kinda miss you.

To the institution of Medicine: May you heal and hold your own with honor.

Disclaimer: Even though these poems are inspired by real heart break, they are still fictionalized and meant to be exaggerated for drama purposes. The contents of this poem do not narrate my true story or the story of anyone I have been with. This includes all dramatized acts of violence, pettiness, and suicidal thoughts.