Mariam Ahmed

Mariam Ahmed is a Californian poet. Born to Pakistani-Muslim parents, she is the youngest of six children and has five older brothers. She grew up in the Bay Area and Folsom, CA. Mariam earned her MFA in Poetry from San Diego State University and her BA in English Literature with a minor in Sociology from the University of California, Davis.

Her debut poetry collection, Moments of Astral Projection (The Offending Adam, 2021), explores themes of memory, transformation, and the intersections of space and time. Her poems have appeared in many literary journals, including Progenitor Art and Literary Journal,  The Rising Phoenix Review, Maintenant: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Art & Poetry,  The Elevation Review, and Kitchen Table Quarterly, among others.

Mariam is also a Certified CalPoet-Teacher with California Poets in the Schools and leads poetry workshops for schools and local nonprofit organizations.

In addition to her poetry, Mariam has contributed book reviews to The Los Angeles Review, Atticus Review, and Poetry International. She features on podcasts including The Offending Adam and Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour.

Her upcoming poetry collection, Hidden Parts (Broken Tribe Press, 2025), is dedicated to her late niece.

Mariam currently lives in San Diego, California.