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Live Encounters Gaza Poetry & Writing, January 2024
Hashem draws love in Gaza, poem by Al Al-Shalah.
Hashem draws love in Gaza
Hashem* closes his shrine and collects tears at its doors
And the legend of Judas sends its pirate of lies
He kills in the sketchbook the laughs of childhood
Hashem starts singing songs
He collects the shadow of masculinity in the Arab keffiyeh
Hashem is on the roads of desolation, singing and Sending his finger to the clouds
Peace be upon the seagulls of Gaza
A beach of tears
And a candle for the Jesus prayer
A thousand mothers come to help Gaza
And Gaza is asleep in the cloud of hymns, reciting Surat Maryam from the holy Quran in the name of its return
Then rise
And the ravens of Jehu are transformed into locusts And terrifies them with songs
Hashem loves his Gaza and puts the pillow back under her tired ribs
Hashem writes Gaza as an icon for the last prayer
Peace be upon the doves of Gaza
Peace of men who come with the dawn, carried by the Ringtone of pride
Peace for the morning of youth, who rises from his death and
reads the books of Gaza
Hashem will not return to his resting place before the young people of Gaza’s homes sleep
*The shrine of Hashim bin Abd Manaf
(grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) in Gaza.
© Ali Al-Shalah
Ali Al-Shalah (1965) born in Babylon, Iraq. He obtained a BA in Literature from the College of Arts, University of Baghdad, 1987 and an MA in Modern Literature, Yarmouk University, Jordan, 1996. He also obtained a PhD in Philosophy and History, University of Bern, Switzerland, 2007. Furthermore, he published five poetry collections and five books on criticism. He was the Founder and President of many cultural institutions, events and festivals, including the following: The founder and president of the Swiss Arab Cultural Center in 1995 and Al-Mutanabbi International Cultural Festival in Switzerland in 2000, President of Babel House for Cultures, Arts and Media, with two branches in Baghdad and Babylon, 2003; the founder and President of the Babylon Festival for International Cultures and Arts 2010, Chairman of the Culture and Media Committee in the Iraqi Parliament in 2010; and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and President of the Iraqi Media Network 2014-2018.