Languages and words have special meanings for many TCKs. A certain phrase spoken by a stranger can bring a sense of comfort, a feeling of “home.” But what about language forgotten or lost? Ibtihal’s poem gives tribute to those lost words.
"Turjuman/ترجمان"
by Ibtihal Ahmed
I don’t carry words with me,
Because they dive in ocean currents
Or take off with airplanes.
This is why I lose words
When timezones shock my essence.
I misplace letters and when I find them
Behind the moon, they are stitched
to the wrong expressions.
Words don’t travel with me,
They just bloom somewhere else.
Ibtihal Ahmed is a Sudanese American and a Third Culture Kid (TCK) who is based in the Washington Metropolitan Area. She aims to unveil her experiences as a TCK through her soon to be published written project, Conversations. Ibtihal speaks three languages. She has bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology and a master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution. In her free time, Ibtihal enjoys landscape photography, drinking coffee, nature walks, and creative writing.
You can find Ibtihal on Instagram @ibtihalat_
