AWP 26 in Baltimore

 Follow the QR Code to find out
where I'll be at AWP.

Current event announcement:

Offsite reading followed by a dance party!

Join us at the Baltimore Rowing Center where several featured creators will share work. I will briefly discuss my artwork, Rafah (Queer Tatreez), and my teaching curriculum featured in...

The Dodge

Return to Roots: Writing Toward Land

A Special Teaching Issue on Palestine

and the Global Indigenous Struggle 

March 5, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.

Event co-hosted with Beloit Poetry Journal, Georgia Review, Pleiades, Prairie Schooner, and AGNI.

Weaving Resistance

In solidarity with
            Braids Against Raids &
                            Wear Your Keffiyeh to School Day

Pending Pubs

Coming Soon!

Anthologies

The Poetry of Arab Women:
A Contemporary Anthology

25th Anniversary Edition
Interlink Publishing
Poetry
Pending 2026

Homosexual Intifada
Interlink Publishing
Visual Poetics
Pending May 2026

Olive Tree Editorial Zine
Poetry and Visual Art
Pending 2026

Sinister Wisdom (SWANA Dykes Trade Book)
SWANA Dykes Issue 

Cover Art & Artist Statement
Pending 2026

Act UP! Beyond New York
Haymarket Books
Memoir Essay
Pending 2027
 
Journals/Magazines

Black Warrior Review
Visual Poetics
Pending Spring 2026

Sinister Wisdom (SWANA Dykes Issue)
Cover Art & Artist Statement
Pending 2026

More exciting announcements coming soon!

To commission or solicit artwork for curation, please contact the artist via the online form provided on this page.

Micaela Kaibni Raen is a queer Palestinian American mother from the Little Arabia community in California. She has been recognized by the Lesbian Herstory Archives for her activism and is the creator of Queer Tatreez, a style of visual art and poetics inspired by Indigenous Palestinian embroidery. A Tin House Alum, her work is featured in Bint el Nas; Mizna; The Poetry of Arab Women; Yellow Medicine Review; Heaven Looks Like Us; and Homosexual Intifada. With visual artwork showcased by Black Warrior Review, Sinister Wisdom, FananaMke, Resistance at A.R.T./New York, and Protea Gallery in Los Angeles.

Socials:
Web Site: https://micaelakaibniraen.blogspot.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/micaelakaibniraen
IG: @micaelakaibniraen

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Return to Roots: Writing Toward Land

 

The Dodge: 

A Special Teaching Issue on 

Palestine and the Global Indigenous Struggle.

Link to Issue:

https://thedodgemag.com/

I created a teaching curriculum focused on my artwork, “Rafah (Queer Tatreez).” I’m so honored to be included with such amazing creators like Naomi Shihab Nye, Philip Metres, Mandy Shunnarah, Sahar Mustafa, Yahya Ashour, and many more.

Please Design a Kite

for the Children of Palestine

https://thedodgemag.com/return-to-roots/rafah-queer-tatreez/

Please download my free coloring page

and create a kite for the children of Palestine.

Then post your creation on IG and tag:

@thedodgemag

&

@micaelakaibniraen

Print issues of The Dodge will be available May 2026.

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Featured Artist February 2026

Thank you Fanana Milwaukee for believing in my work, Queer Tatreez. I am honored to be chosen as a featured artist so I can represent my love for my family and homeland. 

Two ***new*** art pieces are included in the spotlight released by FananaMke on IG.

Featured work:
1. "gone-body's erosion"

      - Previously feat. by Yellow Medicine Review.
2. "Homecoming in Tetas’ Tatreez Galaxy (Queer Tatreez)" 

      - Previously feat. by Protea Gallery.
3. "Poppies Whispers, Part Two" ***New
4. "Sunset’s Flight (Queer Tatreez)" ***New

IG: @fananamke
 
Direct Link to Artist Spotlight:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DUj1IakCVkU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Recent Pub List

In Print
Available for Purchase

Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the Diaspora

Edited by: Susan Muaddi Darraj

Anthology, Palestine Writes Press 2024
Palestinian Writes Press Order Link

Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry
Edited by: George Abraham & Noor Hindi
Anthology, Haymarket Books 2025
Haymarket Pre-order Link

Anodyne Magazine
Germany, Volume Three Summer 2024
https://anodynemag.com/vol3/

EL GHOURABAA:A QUEER AND TRANS COLLECTION OF ODDITIES
Edited by: Samia Marshy and Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch
Metonymy Press 2024

https://metonymypress.com/shop/books/el-ghourabaa-queer-trans-oddities/

Bombay Gin Literary Journal
Naropa University, Autumn 2024
https://www.naropa.edu/academics/jks/publications/bombay-ginCatalyst

Catalyst Literary Arts Journal
New Zealand, December 2024
https://catalystnz.blogspot.com/

Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art and Thought
Poetry, Visual Poetics, and Flash Nonfiction Included, Fall 2024
http://www.yellowmedicinereviewstore.com/

Magma
France, November 2024
https://magmapoetry.com/

Rabbit Poetry
Australia, Autumn 2024
https://rabbitpoetry.com/

Art & Poetry

Available Online Now

Support SWANA creators...click on my work and then stay to explore more. 

Return to Roots: Writing Toward Land
The Dodge: A special teaching issue on Palestine and the Global Indigenous Struggle.
Visual Art with customized curriculum.
Print edition: May 2026

Online edition is available now at https://thedodgemag.com/return-to-roots/rafah-queer-tatreez/

Radical Catalyst Journal
Resisting Authoritarian Issue
My work is on page 12 of the July 2025 issue.
https://radicalcatalystjournal.org/issue1_1.html

Tendrils Literary Journal
A print publication as well as a highly competitive and curated online journal, has published visual poetics that questions...what happens to us when we can no longer hear the whispers of the poppies? The artwork in the poem is vividly stunning and references trauma, tears, and sumud.
Link to my work in the issue:
https://www.tendrilsjournal.com/issue1-trauma-and-the-body#whispers

Ultramarine Literary Review

My artwork in a beautiful Chilean magazine. Title: “Last Flight Home.” The artwork speaks to the global loss of life in Queer/Trans communities. Most of us surviving without basic human rights.
https://www.ultramarinereview.com/art-and-photography?pgid=m49781cs-29f9a094-8cc5-4693-a4c4-4b56e2409945

Chapter House Indigenous Literary Journal
Visual Poetics
https://chjournal.com/micaela-raen

Koukash Review

2023, Issue Two
https://www.koukash.com/issue2/woodcutters-and-waiters

Rowayat Literary Journal
2023, Issue Seven
https://rowayat.org/accept-the-moon/

Global Genocides & Health Catastrophes

With violent genocides and forced starvation affecting so many communities, we are called to witness and to take action. 

HALA Collective Blog 2025 - No "Happy in Pride" for 2025
https://www.thehalacollective.com/blog/time-of-enduring-a-letter-to-my-hala-collective

HALA Collective Blog 2024 "A Time of Enduring"
https://www.thehalacollective.com/blog/time-of-enduring-a-letter-to-my-hala-collective

The Olive Tree - Soon to be re-released as a zine.

The Olive Tree: An international collection of art protesting the ongoing genocide of Palestinians is now available online. Proud to be a part of this beautiful collection of creative work. It will break your heart and give you hope. It is a deeply spiritual search for justice and a sacred honoring of the Palestinian people through art and literature. Thank you students for your activism. #studentintifada

Poem: Genocide      

                           Poem: Atrocious     

           Artwork: Tatreez Armor Breast Plate

                                                                  @theolivetreeeditorial

Writers Resist
Artwork "Death Equals Silence" and Artist Statement
2024, Issue Three
https://www.writersresist.com/2024/06/19/death-equals-silence/

More exciting announcements coming soon!

Micaela Kaibni Raen is a queer Palestinian American mother from the Little Arabia community in California. She has been recognized by the Lesbian Herstory Archives for her activism and is the creator of Queer Tatreez, a style of visual art and poetics inspired by Indigenous Palestinian embroidery. A Tin House Alum, her work is featured in Bint el Nas; Mizna; The Poetry of Arab Women; Yellow Medicine Review; Heaven Looks Like Us; and Homosexual Intifada. With visual artwork showcased by Black Warrior Review, Sinister Wisdom, FananaMke, Resistance at A.R.T./New York, and Protea Gallery in Los Angeles.

Socials:
Web Site: https://micaelakaibniraen.blogspot.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/micaelakaibniraen
IG: @micaelakaibniraen

Index for Continuance Podcast

In episode 20, George Abraham and Noor Hindi discuss structures for abundance and the process of making Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry published by Haymarket Books.

I was so honored that my visual poetics "Silence on Fire (Queer Tatreez)" is mentioned in the podcast. Want to find out what they said?

Here is the direct link to episode...

https://podIndex for Continuance Podcastcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-20-noor-hindi-george-abraham-structures-for/id1675331462?i=1000717953162

The anthology is available to purchase

through the publisher's website...

https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2527-heaven-looks-like-us

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Vids Online

 Performances 

Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing

Palestinian Museum U.S., February 16, 2025

Direct Link the to Event

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y8K0x6HPaA&list=PLhervyCf8iV5PetlP0A5Dl7315-pmm7PV&index=2

Poetry Reading and Presentation

“Who Remembers?” Armenian-Palestinian Solidarities

International Armenian Literary Alliance

Poetry Reading and Presentation on December 10, 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA8X3_2TKIQ&list=WL&index=28&t=2505s

Workshop for Creatives

To Remain human: Writing Through A Genocide

24 Hours for Palestine 2025

Co-Facilitated with Mahru Elahi

Direct link to workshop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnUODM3-N2Y&list=PLhervyCf8iV5PetlP0A5Dl7315-pmm7PV&index=3&t=334s

Find more on my YouTube channel:

Podcast:

SWANA Regional Radio - Podcast on Spotify

Originally aired on KPFK Los Angeles, NPR on January 7, 2023

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GBYDF5uAeMr1ryDYrsbBt?si=JCCmwDuVQImP9U3eXiLOsg

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Poem Preview on YouTube

Short expert of Whispers (Queer Tatreez)
--> On my YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_Qv-ptCZUDw

As seen on IG. To read the rest of the poem go to:

Tendrils Online Journal:

https://www.tendrilsjournal.com/issue1-trauma-and-the-body#whispers

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

2025 Year in Review and Preview to 2026

Thank you to all of my readers and supporters! 

I couldn't do this without you.

Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez     Queer Tatreez

Poetry and Writing for Your TBR

Available at bookstores or directly from the publishers. 

Now is always the best time to support SWANA poets, writers, and publishers.