“There is very little Arabic poetry by women translated to English; for Women in Translation Month (#WiTMonth), we offer a brief look at ten poets. Of the women writers listed — an eclectic list of personal favorites and by no means canon — only one, Iman Mersal, has a collection traditionally published in English translation”
Life is beautiful / says the sparrow / and drops dead beside the hunter’s shoe
“of footfalls that never return / from the checkpoint / which only sends back bodies;”
“Djinn, however, are a different kind of supernatural entity. Unlike ghosts, they are not remnants of a past that we presume dead, but live lives parallel to ours.”
“Other labels we pick apart are ‘Literature of Resistance’ and ‘Poets of the South in Lebanon’ as examples of this labeling process that is motivated by extra-literary imperatives.”
“For if you have crossed
So have we all”
“Dareen, trapped in her house for using the word “Resist” – she was there
and we were everywhere else. “
“The higher court reversed the previous death-sentence ruling and replaced it with eight years, eight hundred lashes, and public repentance. “
“Provocas indigestión al mundo, entre otras cosas.
No obligues a la Tierra a vomitarte,
y permanece cerca de ella, muy cerca.”
