Headspun

by Mashnun Munir

Through rhythmic and lurid poetry, 'headspun' sounds the voice of a deprived, yet faithful brown-skinned boy searching for peace and prosperity. This voice often goes unheard, kept captive in a world of broken family ties, low income community politics, and ceaseless sinning. Though Munir recognizes the beauty behind cultural identity and connection, he demonstrates how lengthy the pilgrimage towards self discovery may be for some, and vividly illustrates the struggle woven in its path. Maneuvering through realms of grief, desperation, and paranoia, we are all compliant to serve the highest forms of self, and to unravel the darkest thoughts spinning circles in our heads.

Preface: 'headspun' pays major homage to its predecessors, and integrates snippets of various literary architects throughout its body. All credit is designated to the individuals who serve as beacons to the creation of these poems, including Mustafa Ahmed, Rajon Cox, and Raekwon Jenkins.

Genres: Poetry

73 pages, Paperback

Published December 23, 2021

Reviews

[Mudra Vyas]

Got this book after being an avid listener of the Difficult-ish podcast. Mashnun dives into his experiences about being a Bangladeshi-Muslim man living in America. I applaud him for his vulnerability with this text. You can truly hear the guilt, pain, and shame that he feels. Talking about generational trauma is not easy and can be anxiety provoking. He expressed this in such a creative way. I always am on the look for more South Asian creatives and I hope Mashnun writes more books!

[Zain]

Growing up as a South Asian Muslim man in the US, I have yet to find any sort of content that really got my vibe. Headspun felt like it understood me on a level that I have yet to find in anything else. I do look forward to anything else Mashnun Munir has to write, an I will keep an look out for other South Asian men authors who may understand the nuances of manhood, religion, culture, and the 2nd+ gen immigrant experience.

[Mohuya Khan]

such a beautiful and insightful book about the struggles about a Bangladeshi American male living in Orlando. has so many intricate experiences about faith, culture, parental relationships, and so much more. a MUST read

[Farhana H.A]

Short concise and deep

[ibne]

this book was gifted to me by N. back then, i thought that gifting me this gem of an anthology was your way of telling me that we were more than what we thought we were; i’m glad things turned out the way they did instead. my love for poetry was dwindling until headspun inspired me. now, i can still proudly call myself a muslim-bengali poet, and that’s all because of your thoughtfulness to gift me this. at the time, i didn’t know how to respond to your kindness, and you taught me that sometimes, it’s not always so complicated. a simple “thank you” can encapsulate the nuance and space shared between us.

so, thank you, N.

5.1/5