A Time for New Dreams

A line from a poem or a song can lead the mind to surprising places—and depending on the line, the path taken may be a lovely one. This is because poetry is so much more than rhyme and rhythm: it’s also about an awareness of life itself. In this fresh collection of essays, Ms. Haikal invites you to think along with her as she contemplates serious issues in the most unusual way. As she travels around the world’s largest metropolis, she meets artists and writers and learns their secrets. Secrets such as how to observe raindrops on a windowpane in order to fully appreciate life and art; how time spent with nature can put things into perspective; and how a single line of poetry can take us to unexplored terrains in our minds.