A Pomegranate Story
And Other Poems
by Hanie Afshar

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She’s one of the Pomegranates On the tree She falls Cracks open Starts to bleed Now you wash the hands That have ripped its skin They’re remaining red You are never clean! Inspired by personal experiences and the stories of others, A Pomegranate Story is a poignant collection of poems and artwork about love, abuse, heartbreak, womanhood, immigration, and ultimately transformation. Through her poetry, Hanie Afshar offers a reflective account of her journey as a woman, as an immigrant, and as someone shaped by life in a so-called “Third World country.” Serving as the book’s central symbol, the pomegranate is both deeply powerful and deeply personal for Hanie. Long celebrated in her homeland; as an emblem of femininity, fertility, and resilience, it embodies the many layers of meaning running through her work. This connection reaches back to Hanie’s own beginnings: while pregnant with her, Hanie’s mother was gifted the first pomegranates from the tree that grew in her late grandfather’s backyard. In A Pomegranate Story, this fruit becomes a vessel for hidden histories and voices often unheard. At its core, A Pomegranate Story is a story of renewal. With simple yet emotionally relatable lyricism, Hanie beautifully navigates the complexities of identity and cultural displacement, empowering readers to discover the resilience required to begin anew.

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Hanie Afshar is a poet who has been writing for as long as she can remember. Although she studied genetics and then pharmacy, her heart belongs with the arts. From fourth grade until eleventh grade, she won annual awards in both story and poetry writing in Iran. Hanie currently lives with family in Iran, but she hopes to return to Toronto one day. Visit Hanie on Instagram @itshanieafshar to read more of her potent poetry born from the silent stages of her life.

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Contributors

Author

Hanie Afshar