Decussations, by Faris Allahham

Poetry, chapbook, 32 pages, from Bottlecap Features. Decussations is comprised of poems that originate from random thoughts that cross the mind and also note deeper, broader patterns in humanity and in human mythologies. The title is in reference to the neuroanatomical term, “decussation,” a crossing of the body’s midline. These poems are reflective of different perspectives, containing humor, irony, and some seriousness. Decussations is a work about interwoven human experience, spirituality, and the fine line between ignorance and understanding. Each poem moves fluidly between meditation and vivid depictions of the natural world, offering a rich tapestry of images and ideas for the reader to explore. However, the poems are arranged such that each poem relates to the next one, whether by disagreement or by stating another point-of-view. This allows for each poem, while topically related to one another, to stand alone as its own aesthetic object. Faris Allahham is a poet and medical student based in Louisville, Kentucky. When not studying medicine, he enjoys reading, good coffee, and playing with his cat, along with his ever-changing interests that possess him from month to month. Some of his previous work can be found in Ekstasis, Laudanum Literary Review, and Sink Hollow.