Raja Arfariezan Noor Armawi, better known by his pen name Karya Qariah, is a 23-year-old writer from Labuan, born on 21st November 2002. His love for writing began in secondary school, inspired by his mother’s vast book collection, which nurtured his passion for storytelling. Currently, he is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Writing (Hons) Creative Writing at UiTM Puncak Perdana and interning at Galeri PETRONAS. Raja’s writing explores themes of personal growth, resilience, and life’s complexities, offering reflective insights. He dreams of furthering his studies abroad and aspires to inspire others and leave meaningful mark in the literary world.
The Burden of Ave Maria
We live with burdens
so much so that we must keep our dreams hidden,
so that promises may flourish,
and fulfill the needs of all those around us.
Purgatory
No matter how broken you are
take what you have left within you
piece together the remnants of your life
and fight with all that you can,
for you are the protector
a hero for those who are powerless.
Ulcer
At times, you speak too boldly,
forgetting to notice
the wounds that lie within your lips.
God
God has known our voices
long before the universe came to be.
And God has loved us first,
long before we learned to love Him.
God has cherished us
long before the heavens were born.
And likewise,
God’s wrath has touched us
before we even had the chance to sin.
