Driving from Qalandia Checkpoint to the River Jordan

Kazim Ali’s books include poetry, fiction, essay, and cross-genre work. He has also edited several critical volumes and anthologies, most recently New Moons: Contemporary Writing by North American Muslims (Red Hen Press, 2021), and translated books by Marguerite Duras, Sohrab Sepehri, Mahmoud Chokrollahi, and Ananda Devi. Before his academic career he worked in public policy and organizing. He later danced with Cocoon Modern Dance and co-founded and was the first publisher of the independent press Nightboat Books. He is professor of literary arts at the University of California, San Diego. (updated 4/2025)