Shurma

Shurma is the Bangla phonetic pronunciation for surma/sormeh, or kohl, run under the eyes by the women in Akhter's life. This poetry book is a coming of age memoir-a collection of poems written since Akhter's migration to Canada, during her adolescence in Toronto, and a retrospection of the funerals since her grandmother's passing. Queer, violent, and tender, the book explores sexuality, generational trauma, and the weight of love after abuse.

Content warning: this book deals with themes of grief, familial trauma/abuse, bullying, homophobia, depression, and self-harm.