29 December 2015

THE ROPE CAME AFTERWARDS

THE ROPE CAME AFTERWARDS
© Farouk Asvat

I was not born
With a cord 'round my neck.

The rope came afterwards.

It is in the nightmare
That the dream is found:

Our sufferings have led to silences:
Our acknowledgements come through
In silent conversations with ourselves
In the absent embraces of our fathers
In the absent caresses of our mothers

And whites appear as negatives
In our colourful lives.

But we keep on,
Loving in the war years,
In the house made of dawn,
Hungering after forgetful memory


© farouk asvat

composed: 27.09.1988 [johannesburg, south Africa under apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:
The Rope Came Afterwards was previously published in:
     "requiem" magazine (usa, vol 1, #9, September 2012);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (kindle, 2015);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (amazon paperback, p50, 2015).
___________________________________________________________________________  
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
This Masquerade (short stories)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
___________________________________________________________________________  
[] please check out my blogs @:


[] please join me on:

___________________________________________________________________________  
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.
Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#i #dream #in #long #sentences #the #rope #came #afterwards


22 December 2015

THERE MUST BE A GOD OUT THERE

THERE MUST BE A GOD OUT THERE
© Farouk Asvat

There must be a god out there.

But he doesn't much care about us.

When he does come down to earth,
He prefers spending the summer at the French Riviera
He likes mingling with topless girls in tangas
He prefers cool martinis on the rocks

God doesn't talk to revolutionaries
Or read socialist magazines

He knows nothing
Of his stepchildren
In the dark continents,
He knows nothing
Of the butchery on his doorstep
Or in his own backyard in Bosnia

In the year of Our Lord 2001
He floats about the universe at warp speed,
Enjoying the wonders of his creation
Like a kid playing around with virtual reality,
Not concerned
About the starving kids down the block

© farouk asvat 

composed: 01.09.1995 [johannesburg, south Africa under new apartheid].
[] Acknowledgements:
There Must Be A God Out There was previously published in:
     requiem magazine (usa, vol 1, #9, September 2012);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (kindle, 2015);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (amazon paperback, p49, 2015).
___________________________________________________________________________  
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
This Masquerade (short stories)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
___________________________________________________________________________  
[] please check out my blogs @:


[] please join me on:

___________________________________________________________________________  
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.
Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#i #dream #in #long #sentences #there #must #be #a #god #out #there 


15 December 2015

NO GOD CAME HERE ...

NO GOD CAME HERE TO ROCK 'N' ROLL
© Farouk Asvat

The terrible gods of our innocence are dead.

No god came here to rock 'n' roll
He sent machetes and machine guns
He came with his religion
Tucked under his arms
Sending modern-day apostles
Who leave bullets in your skull

God delights in antithesis:
He is the ultimate joker;
Skiing in St Moritz
He don't travel much south
He don't confront anacondas
Tsetse flies
Or pangas slashing the night;
He don't know how to rumba
Or play the marimba

God is away.
So I have learned
To tango with the devil:
I have learned that
That is the only way
To manipulate God
(To intercede on my behalf)

© farouk asvat

composed: 23.03.1992 [johannesburg, south Africa under apartheid].
[] Acknowledgements:
No God Came Here to Rock 'n' Roll was previously published in:
     requiem magazine (usa, vol 1, #7, July 2012);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (kindle, 2015);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (amazon paperback, p48, 2015).
___________________________________________________________________________  
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
This Masquerade (short stories)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
___________________________________________________________________________  
[] please check out my blogs @:


[] please join me on:

___________________________________________________________________________  
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.
Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#dream #long #sentences #no #god #came #here #to #rock #'n'# roll


08 December 2015

OH MOTHER!

OH MOTHER!
© Farouk Asvat

Mother, your child is late
     What do you mean
     He is late?

Mother, your child is no longer with us
     What do you mean
     She is no longer with you?

Mother, your child has left us
     What do you mean
     He has left you?

Mother, you can fetch your child
     What do you mean
     I can fetch her?

Mother, your child has been released
     What do you mean
     He has been released?

Mother, your child has been discharged
     What do you mean
     She has been discharged?

Mother, your child has passed on
     What do you mean
     He has passed on?

Mother, oh mother!
How can I say it?

Your child is dead


© farouk asvat

composed: 11.11.2007 [johannesburg, south africa under new apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:
Oh Mother! was previously published in:
     I Dream In Long Sentences (kindle, 2015);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (amazon paperback, p44, 2015).
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
This Masquerade (short stories)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
___________________________________________________________________________  
[] please check out my blogs @:


[] please join me on:

___________________________________________________________________________   
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.
Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#dream #long #sentences #oh #mother


01 December 2015

APPLICATION FOR PILGRIMAGE

AN APPLICATION TO GO ON THE PILGRIMAGE
© Farouk Asvat

These days
You can go for hajj
Only if you apply
Via email

And only if
You know someone
Who knows someone
Who is important
Who knows someone
Who knows someone
Who is rich
Who knows someone
Who knows someone
On the Halaal Committee
Who knows someone
Who knows someone
On the Mosque Committee
Who knows someone
Who knows someone
On the Hajj Committee
Who knows someone
Who knows someone
Who knows God


© farouk asvat

composed: 23.11.2007 [johannesburg, south africa under new apartheid].

[] Acknowledgements:
An Application To Go On The Pilgrimage was previously published in:
     I Dream In Long Sentences (kindle, 2015);
     I Dream In Long Sentences (amazon paperback, p43, 2015).
___________________________________________________________________________
[§] Books by Farouk Asvat:

Sadness In The House Of Love (novel)
The Gathering Of The Storm (novel)
I Dream In Long Sentences (poetry)
The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (poetry)
A Celebration Of Flames (poetry)
The Time Of Our Lives (poetry)
This Masquerade (short stories)
Bra Frooks … (poetry)*
The Paanies Are Coming (short stories)*
In The House Of Love (novel)*
Weapons Of Words (comparative literature & literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle
___________________________________________________________________________
[] please check out my blogs @:


[] please join me on:

___________________________________________________________________________
© farouk asvat.  All rights reserved.
Farouk Asvat asserts his moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means whatsoever, or transmitted in any form or any means whatsoever, mechanical or electronic, including recording, printing, photocopying, or via any computerised means or media, including the internet.  This publication shall also not be stored in a retrieval system.  And the writing shall not be sold, lent, hired, resold or circulated in any form or binding or cover other than that in which it is published,
without the prior permission of the author in writing.
Permission to publish or reproduce the writings in any format can be obtained from the author.
Reproduction of this work without permission, except for scholarly & nonprofit purposes,
is liable to a payment of 10, 000 ren men bi or US$ 1,500.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
the NOVEL Sadness In The House Of Love by Farouk Asvat
is now available on amazon: in paperback @ $15 & kindle @ only $5
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#dream #long #sentences #an #application #to #go #on #the #pilgrimage