"Our grandmothers' tears of Tatreez live on through us. Tatreez will always hold hope, tears and sumud...our cultural inheritance. Their gift to us for the enduring. We are more than fierce grief...we are ancestral indigeneities in human form dreamed into being by our ancestors. We were formed by dreams, sand and stardust but we are shaped by love.
We are poetry. We are Palestine."
-- Micaela Kaibni Raen
Awards & Nominated Poetry
** Yalda Award Winner **
& Nominated for Best of the Net 2025
Qafiyah ReviewPoem: On the Night of Invasion 2024, Issue TwoLink to issue:Nominated Pushcart Prize 2025 Noor MagazinePoem: Piled Limestone 2024, Inaugural IssueDirect Link to Poem:
2024, Issue Two
Brief Publications List
In Print
Available for Purchase
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, Haymart 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
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
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/
Palestinian Writes Press Order Link
Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry
Edited by: George Abraham & Noor Hindi
Anthology, Haymart 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
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
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/
Radical Catalyst Journal
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
Micaela Kaibni Raen is a Palestinian American creator, cultural worker, queer femme-dyke, mother, and global Queer/Trans rights activist. She grew up in the Little Arabia community in California and graduated from Chapman University. During that time, she participated in the Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc., ACT UP!, and Queer Nation. She is most known for Queer Tatreez, a style of visual art and poetics inspired by Indigenous Palestinian Tatreez embroidery. She has been awarded the Yalda Award for Poetry as well as nominations for The Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.
Her artwork appears in Writer’s Resist; Bombay Gin Literary Journal; Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art & Thought; The Olive Tree; and Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry.
Her written work has been featured in Bint el Nas; Mizna; Qafiyah Review; Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art & Thought; The Poetry of Arab Women; and El Ghourabaa: A Queer and Trans Arab and Arabophone Anthology; Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the Diaspora; and Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry.
Australia, Autumn 2024
https://rabbitpoetry.com/
Art & PoetryAvailable Online Now
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 ReviewMy 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
Global Genocides & Health CatastrophesWith violent genocides and forced starvation affecting so many communities, we are called to witness and to take action. We must all find our place in the struggle for justice and human rights. As we do so, we will mourn, more than ever before, shedding tears for Palestine, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan, Haiti, Syria, and so many more areas with people struggling to survive disease, starvation and violent attacks. Many are planning protests, performances, teach-ins, letter/email/phone campaigns, community outreach, and more.
As we move forward, here is my prayer…
https://www.thehalacollective.com/blog/time-of-enduring-a-letter-to-my-hala-collective
I post event and publication announcements, community news, and humanitarian aid updates on IG. In addition, I continue to create and donate, perform, teach and more. So, follow me on IG @micaelakaibniraen
The Olive Tree - Soon to be re-released as a zine.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
https://www.ultramarinereview.com/art-and-photography?pgid=m49781cs-29f9a094-8cc5-4693-a4c4-4b56e2409945
Visual Poetics
https://chjournal.com/micaela-raen
Global Genocides & Health Catastrophes
With violent genocides and forced starvation affecting so many communities, we are called to witness and to take action. We must all find our place in the struggle for justice and human rights. As we do so, we will mourn, more than ever before, shedding tears for Palestine, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan, Haiti, Syria, and so many more areas with people struggling to survive disease, starvation and violent attacks. Many are planning protests, performances, teach-ins, letter/email/phone campaigns, community outreach, and more. https://www.thehalacollective.com/blog/time-of-enduring-a-letter-to-my-hala-collective
I post event and publication announcements, community news, and humanitarian aid updates on IG. In addition, I continue to create and donate, perform, teach and more. So, follow me on IG @micaelakaibniraen
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/
Koukash Review
Artwork "Death Equals Silence" and Artist Statement
2024, Issue Three
https://www.writersresist.com/2024/06/19/death-equals-silence/
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/
https://www.koukash.com/issue2/woodcutters-and-waiters
Rowayat Literary Journal
2023, Issue Seven
https://rowayat.org/accept-the-moon/
Performances Available Online:
Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the DiasporaPalestinian Museum U.S., February 16, 2025Link the to Event - Available to watch now on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y8K0x6HPaA&list=PLhervyCf8iV5PetlP0A5Dl7315-pmm7PV&index=2Poetry Reading and Presentation
SWANA Regional Radio - Podcast on SpotifyOriginally aired on KPFK Los Angeles, NPR on January 7, 2023
“Who Remembers?”: Armenian-Palestinian Solidarities: A Reading on YouTubePoetry Reading and Presentation on December 10, 2023
Coming Soon
Pending:
The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology25th Anniversary EditionInterlink PublishingPoetry Pending 2026
Return to Roots: Writing Toward LandThe Dodge: A special
teaching issue on Palestine and the Global Indigenous Struggle. Visual Art with customized curriculum.Online January
2026, Print edition: May 2026Homosexual IntifadaVisual PoeticsPending May 2026
Olive Tree Editorial ZinePoetry and Visual ArtPending 2026
Sinister Wisdom (Issue)SWANA Dykes Issue - Cover ArtPending 2027
Sinister Wisdom (Trade Book)SWANA Dykes Issue - Cover ArtPending 2027
More exciting announcements coming soon!
Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the Diaspora
Palestinian Museum U.S., February 16, 2025
Link the to Event - Available to watch now on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y8K0x6HPaA&list=PLhervyCf8iV5PetlP0A5Dl7315-pmm7PV&index=2Poetry Reading and Presentation
SWANA Regional Radio - Podcast on Spotify
Originally aired on KPFK Los Angeles, NPR on January 7, 2023
“Who Remembers?”: Armenian-Palestinian Solidarities: A Reading on YouTube
Coming Soon
Pending:
The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology
25th Anniversary Edition
Interlink Publishing
Poetry
Pending 2026
Return to Roots: Writing Toward Land
The Dodge: A special
teaching issue on Palestine and the Global Indigenous Struggle.
Visual Art with customized curriculum.
Online January
2026, Print edition: May 2026
Homosexual Intifada
Visual Poetics
Pending May 2026
Olive Tree Editorial Zine
Poetry and Visual Art
Pending 2026
Sinister Wisdom (Issue)
SWANA Dykes Issue - Cover Art
Pending 2027
Sinister Wisdom (Trade Book)
SWANA Dykes Issue - Cover Art
Pending 2027
More exciting announcements coming soon!
Micaela Kaibni Raen is a Palestinian American creator, cultural worker, queer femme-dyke, mother, and global Queer/Trans rights activist. She grew up in the Little Arabia community in California and graduated from Chapman University. During that time, she participated in the Radius of Arab American Writers, Inc., ACT UP!, and Queer Nation. She is most known for Queer Tatreez, a style of visual art and poetics inspired by Indigenous Palestinian Tatreez embroidery. She has been awarded the Yalda Award for Poetry as well as nominations for The Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.
Her artwork appears in Writer’s Resist; Bombay Gin Literary Journal; Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art & Thought; The Olive Tree; and Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry.
Her written work has been featured in Bint el Nas; Mizna; Qafiyah Review; Yellow Medicine Review: A Journal of Indigenous Literature, Art & Thought; The Poetry of Arab Women; and El Ghourabaa: A Queer and Trans Arab and Arabophone Anthology; Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the Diaspora; and Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry.
Socials:
Web Site: https://micaelakaibniraen.blogspot.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/micaelakaibniraen
IG: @micaelakaibniraen
Past Publications (Brief List)
Anthologies:
- A Kiss is Just a Kiss, Tall Grass Writers Guild, Baker & Taylor Publishing, Summer 2001
- A Different Path: An Anthology of the Radius of Arab American Writers, Ed. D. H. Melhem & Leila Diab, Ridgeway Press, 2000
- The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology, Ed. Nathalie Handal, Interlink Publishing, 2000
- Yellow Medicine Review,, “The Ancestors We Were Looking for We Have Become: International Queer Indigenous Voices,” edited by Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhrán, Fall 2010
- Mizna Literary Journal, 2014
- Tagg Magazine, Features Author and Contributor, 2013 – 2015
- 2000-2003: Bint el Nas; Ahbab Magazine, Chronogram: The Hudson Valley Arts Magazine
