I'm to be the sea

A collaboration with Tuğba Avci

I swim from shore to shore.
There is no way out.
I'm drowning.
I'm screaming.
I'm crying.
I'm surrendering.
I'm accepting.
This is where I belong.
I let, with every depth, part of my soul free.
I'm to be the sea.

Immigrant - Tuğba

Words by

Tuğba

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I collaborated with seven writers to bring their themes of water to my latest body of work. Each creative chose a piece that resonated and wrote the words true to them.

Tuğba

describes herself like this: I write • I paint • I create • I choose • I love. She finds fast-acting relief from slowing down.

Tuğba and I met on Substack. When we connected to collaborate, she shared her story with me—much of which you’ll learn in her words above. We talked about how her words came out differently than she anticipated. I shared how that was a common sentiment, and I am thinking about how the ocean was a part of that.