Shadab Zeest Hashmi (born August 16, 1972) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

poet of Pakistani origins. Her poetry, written in English, has been translated into Spanish and Urdu. She has been the editor of the ''Magee Park Poets Anthology'' and ''MahMag'' and is a columnist for ''3 Quarks Daily''. Many of Hashmi's poems explore feminism, history and perspectives on

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...

Biography

Shadab Zeest Hashmi grew up in Peshawar, Pakistan. She graduated from Reed College in 1995 and received her MFA from Warren Wilson College. Her poetry has appeared in ''Prairie Schooner'', ''Poetry International'', ''Vallum'', ''Atlanta Review'', ''Nimrod'', ''The Bitter Oleander'', ''Journal of Postcolonial Writings'', ''The Cortland Review'', ''The Adirondack Review'', ''New Millennium Writings'', ''Universe: A United Nations of Poets'', ''Drunken Boat'', ''Split this Rock'', ''Hubbub'', ''Pakistani Literature Women Writings'' and others. Shadab Zeest Hashmi's essays on eastern poetic forms such as the

ghazal The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...

and qasida have been published in the ''Journal of Contemporary World Literature'', and her essays have appeared in the ''Washington Post'', ''Pakistaniaat: A Journal of Pakistan Studies'', ''Knot'' magazine, and "3 Quarks Daily" In 2010, Poetic Matrix Press published Shadab Zeest Hashmi's book ''Baker of Tarifa'', which won the 2011 San Diego Book Award for poetry. ''Baker of Tarifa'' is a book of poems based on the history of Muslim Spain; it attempts to recreate a near millennium of Andalusi culture which transformed Western thought, values, art science and technology, building a legend of peaceful co-existence known as "la convivencia". The work looks at Muslim Civilization as a bridge between antiquity and modernity, East and West, between three continents (Africa, Asia, and Europe) and three religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam); a golden chapter not only in Muslim and European history, but human history. Shadab Zeest Hashmi has been inspired by the music of the

Al-Andalus Ensemble Al-Andalus Ensemble is a husband and wife musical duo that performs contemporary Andalusian music. The ensemble features Tarik Banzi playing oud, ney and darbuka, and Julia Banzi on flamenco guitar."Cultural Modulations" "Aramco World", Vol. 45, ...

. Eleanor Wilner called Hashmi's poems "luminous." Shadab's latest book is ''Kohl & Chalk'', which uses themes from her own life as a naturalized American citizen, while also remembering her home in Pakistan.

Works

Published Essays: * ''Qasida'' * ''Ghazal'' * ''Memoir Essay'' * ''Essay'' * ''Review'' * ''Ghazal, Sufism and the Birth of a Language'' * ''"Saying" the Ghazal: Duende and Performing the Courtly Art of the Ghazal'' Poems: * ''"''Sultana Morayma: the Last Queen of al-Andalus", ''Mizna, Summer '16 Issue, Volume 17.1'' p. 57 ISSN 1535-2331 * "Across the Windowsill", San Diego Museum of Art * "Iman", San Diego Reader * "Passing through Peshawar" * "It’s Your Marmalade House" * "Guantanamo" Books: * ''Kohl & Chalk'' (Poetic Matrix Press: January 25, 2013). * ''Baker of Tarifa'' (Poetic Matrix Press: September 1, 2010).

Awards

*1991 — SAARC medal for literature, *2004 — Stout Award, *2007 —

Andalusia Prize for Literature Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The ...

, *2011 — San Diego Book Award, *2014 —

Nazim Hikmet Poetry Prize Subahdar, also known as Nazim or in English as a "Subah", was one of the designations of a governor of a Subah (province) during the Khalji dynasty of Bengal, Mamluk dynasty (Delhi), Khalji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty, Mughal era ( of India who was ...

, *2014 — San Diego Book Award

References

External links

Interview
*

' (text and audio)
Small Press Distribution listingAn Interview with Shadab Zeest Hashmi and Alicia Jo Rabins with Gray
Thoron (transcript) {{DEFAULTSORT:Hashumi, Shadab Zeest 1970 births Living people Pakistani emigrants to the United States Reed College alumni Warren Wilson College alumni San Diego State University faculty 21st-century American poets