<![CDATA[Musings of a Young Contrarian : The Sky That Stole 1000 Midnights ]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/s/the-lighthouse-monoclehttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tMb9!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcb3d3383-60f9-4965-ab45-4f250af2036a_192x192.pngMusings of a Young Contrarian : The Sky That Stole 1000 Midnights https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/s/the-lighthouse-monocleSubstackSat, 11 Apr 2026 06:19:25 GMT<![CDATA[A Young Poet]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/a-young-poet-2c5https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/a-young-poet-2c5Thu, 28 Mar 2024 12:02:36 GMTI dreamt a lot more as a teen than I do as an adult. Im sure there are some celestial explanations for this, or someone will tell me that my chakras are out of wack which results in my minds eye being obscured. I can’t say for certain what it is but the fact remains, I dreamt wildly and vividly in my youth. Perhaps a testament to all I couldn’t express while awake, now I was able to experience those emotions, however fantastical they may have been, in a different realm; one where I could just be and no one was able to interrupt or cast their judgment.

I recall one night when I was around 17 years old, I had a dream of a young man around my age, taking my hand and guiding me through the sky. We walked amongst clouds, we spoke, laughed and went on a magical adventure. While in this dream, I recall feeling as though I was in the presence of my brother but I knew that this character was not my actual “real-life” brother. Its a strange feeling because I felt we were connected but in reality, he was no one I actually knew, no one who really existed in my life.

In some way however, I think he was pretty close to being a brother, a “dream brother” who only came to visit me once in my life but left me with great advice and a feeling of everlasting love. As though this was a message my real-life brother wanted to provide but couldn’t conjure the words or find the time to deliver it.

Without me knowing any more or less of this person I dreamt of, I knew there was a poetic presence to him. A troubadour interrupting my dream realm to show me bits go my current life. Girls I was seeing, love I was giving away freely and a prison I was living in for too long.

Below is the poem I wrote from this very dream and the comic book pages that Devon Delcastillo drew to accompany this journey.

I hope you enjoy.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Pariah]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/pariah-31chttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/pariah-31cThu, 25 Jan 2024 17:30:32 GMT

This is the first installment for issue #2 of The Lighthouse Chronicles Series. In issue #1, Love By Lamplight , I shared some of my poetic works on love; both of others and of self. In this series I will compile some poems I have written while taking a deep look at culture, religion and the many victims who have found themselves suffocating underneath the weight of a forced doctrine; I know I am one of them.

Illustrated by the talented Laourde, the poetry I have written over the last 16 years chronicles my own journey as an LGBTQ+ person who has been faced with church camps, exorcisms, conversion therapy and more, all at the hands of a scripture that bellows of love and acceptance.

Thanks for your support in this endeavor and i’m excited to continue creating this series!

*This sample at issue #2’s comic book pages is usually held for paid subscribers only. I am providing this as a one time glimpse at what is to come. Any future poetry comic book pages will be released behind the pay wall.

Poetry written by Munira Mona Morsy

Illustrations by Laourde

As I Burn Babylon, the second issue in my “illustrated poetry” series, will be in print later this year.

Share Musings of a Young Contrarian

]]><![CDATA[Love By Lamplight Complete Comic Book]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/love-by-lamplight-complete-comichttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/love-by-lamplight-complete-comicMon, 20 Nov 2023 16:10:55 GMTTo my valued subscribers, thank you for sticking by me for these past 2 years! As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been working on completing book 1 of my poetry comic book series, The Lighthouse Chronicles. After a long year of designing and collaboration, its finally here!

For my paid subscribers, the entire book is available for you below. Thank you again and without any further shenanigans, I introduce you to, Love By Lamplight.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Love By Lamplight - an illustrated poetry comic book]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/love-by-lamplight-an-illustratedhttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/love-by-lamplight-an-illustratedWed, 15 Nov 2023 19:22:46 GMTHello everyone!

I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continuous support and understanding during my brief absence from posting. Over the past couple of months, I've been fully immersed in an exciting project that I'm thrilled to soon share with you. This endeavor has been a labor of love, requiring dedicated time and effort, but I'm incredibly excited about the outcome.

Below you will find the cover art for this latest creation, "Love By Lamplight," an illustrated poetry comic book. Teaming up with the incredibly talented artist, Devon Delcastillo, has allowed my poetry to transcend traditional boundaries. Witnessing Devon's interpretation breathe life into my verses has been an emotional and awe-inspiring journey.

While I've teased some pages previously, I'm excited to announce that the full 32-page comic book is now complete! If you're interested in getting your hands on a printed copy, feel free to reach out to me. And for my amazing paid subscribers, your copy will be free of charge if you wish to own one. For non-subscribers, the book is available for $10!

This marks the inaugural entry in a series I've titled The Lighthouse Chronicles, and I can't wait to give you glimpses of what's brewing for book 2. Thank you once again for your incredible support, and I sincerely hope you find as much joy in this creation as I have pouring my heart into it. Cheers!

Share Musings of a Young Contrarian

Musings of a Young Contrarian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Come Back ]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/come-backhttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/come-backMon, 14 Aug 2023 14:50:45 GMT

Poetry written by Munira Mona Morsy

Illustrations by Devon Delcastillo

Love by Lamplight, the first issue in my “illustrated poetry” series, will be in print by December 2023.

Musings of a Young Contrarian is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Reflections]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/reflectionshttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/reflectionsFri, 05 May 2023 13:01:39 GMT

Religion has told us that “God” is a man, most likely white (however that happened), sitting on his thorn somewhere above the clouds. He is wise, benevolent, omniscient and made each of us in his image.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[In Nature, We Love]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/in-nature-we-lovehttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/in-nature-we-loveThu, 16 Jun 2022 19:26:19 GMT

Love takes many shapes.

It manifests itself in the natural world for us to see and feel.

When we are in nature, we can feel that we are part of something greater than ourselves; a movement underneath our feet that is both humbling and fearful. Love feels like this at times, too. We are brought to our knees by the adoration someone can have for us and af…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[The Lighthouse]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-lighthouse-1cbhttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-lighthouse-1cbThu, 16 Jun 2022 12:00:11 GMTI was stranded in the ocean, 

the water up to my knees.

They left me there for dead, 

saying the truth would set me free.

I couldn't see the edge, 

I was preparing for my plea.

Then there it was, the lighthouse, 

staring down at me. 

The dark ocean is my comfort,

the music comes from the sea.

The crashing against the rocks,

plays a symphony for me.

The calmness of the storm, 

the rumble that it breeds. 

We are ready for the next one,

the lighthouse and me.

The comic book version of this poem can be found in the series of comic poetry titled: The Sky that Stole 1000 Midnights,written and designed by Munira Mona Morsy. One these pages, the poem comes to life with artwork drawn for it as well as footnotes telling the story behind the poems.

The comic poetry pages are for paid subscribers only. If you are interested in experiencing this project and wish to support it, then please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Thank you for all you do, you are appreciated.

Subscribe now

]]><![CDATA[Venice]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/venicehttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/veniceSat, 16 Apr 2022 12:00:31 GMT

For my wife.

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Glory]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/gloryhttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/gloryWed, 16 Mar 2022 12:00:37 GMT

What does glory even mean?
Is it glorious to be a queen?
To have them bend down on one knee
and watch the others scream?

Who is glory? What do they feel?
Is it fine to judge the others 
while your own children steal?

Why do we feel compelled to save our brothers too?
Is it for the glory from our father 
or from the guilt in you?

Hypocrisy bleeds from the faces…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[The Lighthouse]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-lighthousehttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-lighthouseSun, 16 Jan 2022 12:00:48 GMT

My name, Munira, means “lighthouse” in Arabic. A steady and unyeilding force against nature, the lighthouse is strong and prepared for the thrash of the waves; as I am.

I was named after my paternal grandmother, I didn’t know a lot about her but undoubtedly she needed to be strong in order to deal with the restricted forced of her Muslim religion and Eg…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[Death by Culture ]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/death-by-culturehttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/death-by-cultureThu, 16 Dec 2021 12:00:39 GMT

How Culture Treats Us

Culture allows parents to turn their backs on children. It calls for ancient rituals to be played over and over again, without thought or logic. Judgements and taboos that should be relics of a dead past, instead sound louder than ever, continuing to make examples of the marginalized.

I was the example.

The culture and religion of m…

Read more

]]><![CDATA[The Sky That Stole 1000 Midnights ]]>https://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-sky-that-stole-1000-midnightshttps://www.ayoungcontrarian.com/p/the-sky-that-stole-1000-midnightsThu, 16 Dec 2021 11:58:33 GMT

It's incredible to think that some can be born into riches and others into poverty on the same day, in the same world. Neither asked for it, but the universe nonetheless imposes drastically different circumstances for no perceptible reason.

I was fated to experience such a capricious dichotomy, not only under the same sky but under the same roof: my parents treated me with an obvious unparalleled emotion then what they had for my brother. He was gold, I was of a lesser value. I would notice these differences and at the time, I couldn’t express it. I was young and weak, scared and in a place I knew I didn’t belong.

Each experience I had, each fight I was involved in, each time my parents restricted my bloom and growth I felt a day wasted. I felt as though my days and nights were stolen from me. Experiences that I knew I was missing out on that I couldn’t get back. These were my midnights breached.

During these times of greatest despair, I found solace and meditation by putting pen to paper. I wrote short stories and poetry as a way to escape the world that I was born into, the unjust world that had wronged me. 

The Sky That Stole 1000 Midnights is a collection of these poems in what I like to call graphic poetry. Think of it as a collection of poems in comic book form: an artistic way for me to fuse bits of the culture I grew up with and the incandescent poetry that arose from it. Like a lotus that grows from the mud and blooms brilliantly, these poems are living representations of not only my own resilience, but the resilience we all have to thrive, no matter the circumstances of our birth.

May these pages inspire you to trust yourself, to always stay creating, and to use the injustice you've experienced as fuel to rise to propel you above and beyond your oppressors. 

This is the cover page of the first series of comic poetry written and designed by Munira Mona Morsy. The comic poetry pages are for paid subscribers only. If you are interested in experiencing this project and wish to support it, then please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Thank you for all you do, you are appreciated.

]]>