CRACKS IN THE SKIN – Ashraf Fayadh THE POET IN PRISON
Cracks in the skin, a poem written by Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh from a Saudi Arabian jail. Translated from Arabic into Italian by Sana Darghmouni, and from Italian into English by Pina Piccolo and approved by the author.
Cracks in the Skin
My country passed by here,
wearing the shoe of freedom….
Then off it went, leaving its shoe behind
It ran at a belabored pace… like the rhythm of my heartbeat.
my heart, which was running in a different direction… without a convincing justification.
The shoe of liberty was worn out, old and fake
like the rest of human values, at all levels.
Everything has left and abandoned me… including you.
The shoe is a disconcerting invention
it demonstrates our ineligibility to live on this planet.
it reveals our belonging to another place with no great need for walking
or a place with a floor that has cheap tiles… slippery ones!
The problem is not the slipping… but rather the water,
the heat… the broken glass… the thorns… the dry branches and the sharp rocks.
Shoes are not the perfect solution
but in some way they fulfill the intended goal
just like reason
and like passion.
My passion has become extinguished since last time you left
I can no longer reach you
since I have been detained in a cement box supported by cold metal bars,
since everyone has forgotten me… starting from my freedom… and ending with my shoe, affected by an identity crisis.
Ashraf Fayadh
**********
Cracks in the skin, is a poem written by Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh from a Saudi Arabian jail, where he has been detained for the last four years on charges of apostasy, with a court sentence issued in February 2016: eight years imprisonment, 800 lashes and the demand that he publicly renounce his work.
Since 2016 La Macchina Sognante has joined the international campaign demanding his release and has published one of his poems in translation in every issue. We will follow the same approach in The Dreaming Machine, the English language version of La Macchina Sognante. The artist’s family has called for renewed monetary support to help pay for the expenses incurred by his legal defense team as it prepares the appeal. We will provide more information as that international effort becomes more structured.
“On October 20, 2017 the poet was awarded the prestigious PEN Canada One Humanity award which, in the words of the press release issued by the Canadian organization, is given “to a writer whose work transcends the boundaries of national divides and inspires connections across cultures. Valued at $5,000 CAD, the award honours PEN’s commitment to literature as a common currency between nations, and as a catalyst for mutual understanding and respect.
The 2017 winner, Ashraf Fayadh, is a Palestinian refugee living in Saudi Arabia and the author of Instructions Within (2008), a poetry collection that comments on social issues in the Arab world. He is a key member of the Edge of Arabia, a British-Saudi arts community and digital platform that promotes dialogue and cultural exchange between the Middle East and western world.”
“Behind Fayadh’s poems, there are stories that show the painful loss of freedom,” said Ashraf Zaghal, editor for Arabic poetry magazine, Laghoo. “His stories about freedom do not necessarily relate to the poet’s homeland but, rather, reach out to the human public sphere and the strife for the essential right to free speech and action.”
In the summer of 2014, Fayadh stood trial in Saudi Arabia on blasphemy related charges related to his poetry collection, which has since been banned from circulation. Saudi courts sentenced him to death in 2015 for the crime of being an infidel, but after international outcry, authorities commuted his sentence to eight years and 800 lashes. Fayadh remains in prison in Abha while he appeals his sentence.
“This award reminds Fayadh, his family, his supporters, and most importantly, his jailers, that his colleagues will continue to advocate for his right to freedom of expression until he is released,” said PEN Canada president, Richard Stursberg.
PEN Canada will present the award Friday, October 20, at their annual event at the International Festival of Authors. Entitled, Glorious and Free? Canada in 2017; the panel features Jesse Wente, Rachel Giese, Desmond Cole and moderator Jesse Brown in a discussion on Canadian freedoms.
The International Festival of Authors will also feature an empty chair on each stage to honour imprisoned Azeri writer and blogger, Rashad Ramazanov.”
Pina Piccolo
**********
December 11, 2017
Ashraf’s family has put out to call to revamp the campaign to free Ashraf and has put out an urgent appeal for donations, to help cover the legal expenses for the appeal.
Other poets, like Valentina Meloni are also responding to the call by publishing Ashraf’s latest in Italian and circulating the appeal for donations.
Camilla Boemio, an international art curator and critic, is also about to spearhead an effort to get his work shown internationally with an eye to selling some of his pieces in order to raise the much needed funds. It would be helpful to start the donation campaigns already and some writers who have been close to the campaign have already started doing so.
For more information: please contact us at info@lamacchinasognante.com for details concerning donations being sent direct to Ashraf Fayadh’s family.
*****
Crepe di Pelle
Il mio paese è passato di qua
calzando la scarpa della libertà…
poi se n’è andato, lasciando la scarpa alle sue spalle,
correva con un ritmo travagliato … come il ritmo del mio cuore,
il mio cuore che correva verso un’altra direzione … senza una giustificazione convincente.
La scarpa della libertà era consumata, vecchia e finta
come il resto dei valori umani in tutte le loro dimensioni.
Tutto mi ha abbandonato e se n’è andato … inclusa te.
La scarpa è un’invenzione sconcertante
dimostra la nostra ineleggibilità a vivere su questo pianeta,
dimostra la nostra appartenenza ad un altro luogo in cui non abbiamo bisogno di camminare molto,
o che il suo pavimento è arredato con ceramica economica … scivolosa!
Il problema non sta nello scivolare … tanto quanto nell’acqua,
nel calore … nel vetro rotto … nelle spine … nei rami secchi e nelle rocce appuntite.
La scarpa non è una soluzione perfetta
ma in qualche modo adempie allo scopo desiderato
esattamente come la ragione
e come la passione.
La mia passione si è estinta da quando te ne sei andata l’ultima volta,
non posso raggiungerti più
da quando sono stato detenuto in una cassa di cemento sostenuta da barre fredde di metallo
da quando mi hanno dimenticato tutti … a cominciare dalla mia libertà … e a finire dalla mia
scarpa affetta da una crisi di identità.
Ashraf Fayadh
(traduzione di Sana Darghmouni)
SOURCE:
November 29, in Poetry, The Dreaming Machine
http://www.thedreamingmachine.com/the-poet-in-prison-cracks-in-the-skin-ashraf-fayadh/
Image:
(Spiderscarf) Featured image by Ashraf Fayadh courtesy of the artist, from his in-progress project “Spiderscarf” (Shashaboon)
http://www.thedreamingmachine.com
(Free Ashraf) Saudi artist Ahmed Mater (Edge of Arabia founder), shared this photograph on Twitter in support of Fayadh
http://edgeofarabia.com/about / https://www.ahmedmater.com/
See:
http://www.thedreamingmachine.com/
http://www.lamacchinasognante.com/?s=AShraf+Fayadh
Pina Piccolo’s Blog
http://www.pinapiccolosblog.com/
In Italian: (Crepe di Pelle di Ashraf Fayad)
Instructions Within – Ashraf Fayadh
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