Imtiaz Dharker
“Paper that lets the light
shine through, this
is what could alter things.
Paper thinned by age or touching…”
(Full poem unable to be reproduced due to copyright restrictions)
An old, decaying Islamic manuscript. Photo by Istiqamatunnisak on Unsplash
, VOCABULARY
Alter - change
Thinned - made thinner
Koran - the primary Islamic religious text which all Muslims study and follow,
similar to the Bible, but one which contains the teachings of the prophet
Muhammed
Histories - the accounts of past events and times
Sepia - a soft red-brown colour, the colour used in old photographs
Transparent - see through
Railtracks - the lines of a railway system that trains travel along
Mountainfolds - the shapes that mountain makes, but also an origami term for a
piece of paper folded in half downwards to look like a mountain
Slips - pieces of paper
Architect - somebody who designs buildings and structures, although this term is
also used to refer to the idea of a Creator, a god
Luminous - illuminated, glowing - the phrase ‘luminous script’ also alludes to
Medieval illuminated manuscripts, some of the very first books, whose pages were
handcrafted by skilled monks and decorated with painted borders
Capitals - letters of the alphabet written in UPPER CASE, but also the name of the
principle cities in countries
Monoliths - stone pillars, but also the name for large and well established social,
corporate or political structures in society
Pride - a feeling of great happiness that comes when thinking of achievements or
accomplishments - this can be attached to yourself, others or even to an entire
country or nation, on a less positive note pride can also lead to a person being
delusional or overconfident if not properly controlled
A grand design - usually the words we use to refer to the idea that the universe
was deliberately constructed by a Creator - either a god or a group of gods
depending on the religion