It’s hard to describe this book as “just” a poetry collection, because it’s more than that— It’s an interesting blend of fragmented poems, prose (both creative and more academic), and photos to reflect on Palestinian liberation. I did feel that Abuaker’s experimental approach worked in some places, while at other times, it didn’t come together as well for me.

I think the most compelling piece in this work was “Suture Fragmentations — a note on return.” I will say that it definitely leans heavily toward the academic, which is pretty much solidified by Abuaker being in close dialogue with scholarly work, particularly Sara Ahmed’s Queer Phenomenology. It was not only the way she engaged with the idea of return and (re)orientation that I found fascinating, but also the way she played with form throughout this piece to reflect on the devastating impact of settler colonialism for Palestinians.

Why So Few Women on the Street at Night definitely asks for more of your attention and ability to focus on what Abuaker is saying due to its density. And while I didn’t particularly love everything in this collection, my takeaway is still the case that this is an incredibly thought-provoking work of art.