farouk asvat : poems: May 2012

29 May 2012

SOMETHING LINGERS

SOMETHING LINGERS

If there is no first coming

There are no second thoughts

Even though the flames are out

And the night is dark

But something lingers

The architecture of the wind

The splendour of the shooting star

The meanderings of the mind

The ululating dunes

Linger

Even when the pane is misted over

And a heap of silence lies between us

Even when only a line spun by a spider

Connects across the empty vastness of the desert

Something like love lingers

Even in animosity

composed: 1985 [cape town, south africa under #apartheid ]

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[§] 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 (literary criticism)

¨ all my books are now available on amazon: in paperback & kindle

@ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

___________________________________________________________________________

¨ A CELEBRATION OF FLAMES by FAROUK ASVAT

§ WINNER OF THE VITA AWARD

""A Celebration of Flames" is a powerful, impassioned call. The sanity and courage of this collection arises from the poet's unique experiential perceptions of his milieu, making him one of the few who can write about these traumatic times with such lucidity and lyricism. The strength of Farouk Asvat's poetry lies in the way he intertwines the complex elements of social and political conflicts with intense personal relationships. The wide tonal range extends from sensual and delicate insights into the nature of passion to the satiric and humorous use of slang."

● Vita Award citation

"Like hesitating snowflakes his words are fascinating in their capricious wilfulness - like unexpected strokes of a whip."

● Susanne Baackmann, University Of Albuquerque, USA

"His love poetry soars with an intense sensitivity, it celebrates lyrically the joys of a most exquisite sensuousness."

● Marcia Leveson, University Of The Witwatersrand, The Indicator

""A Celebration of Flames" (is) a powerful, impassioned call. I admire the sanity and courage of this. Your position and perception make you one of the few who can write on this subject without obscenity."

● Lionel Abrahams, editor Purple Renoster & Sesame

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: - like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"you almost catch your breath at some of the stanzas - you can re-read it several times and be struck by new ideas, metaphors, elegiac surprises, and the heartfelt poignancy "

● Aggrey Klaaste, editor Sowetan

"Out of an angry silence, a polished poet is born."

● Anton Harber, editor Weekly Mail

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● IETS BLIJFT ER HANGEN

Dutch translation by © Irene Scheltes

Als de eerste toenadering er niet is

Volgen er geen gedachten,

Ook al is het vuur gedoofd

En de nacht donker.

Maar iets blijft er hangen:

De architectuur van de wind

De flonkering van de vallende ster

Het doolhofvan de geest

De jammerende duinen

Blijven hangen

Zelfs wanneer de ruiten beslagen zijn

En er tussen ons een massa stilte ligt

Zelfs als slechts het draadje van een spin

De lege uitgestrektheid der woestijn doortekt

Blijft er iets als liefde hangen

Zelfs in vijandigheid

Dutch translation by kind permission of Irene Scheltes

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● ΚΑΤΙ ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΕΥΕΙ

Greek translation by © Paulos Ioannou

Αν δεν υπάρχει ο πρώτος ερχομός

Δεν υπάρχουν δεύτερες σκέψεις

Παρόλο που οι φλόγες έχουν σβήσει

Και η νύχτα είναι σκοτεινή

Όμως κάτι παραμονεύει

Η αρχιτεκτονική του ανέμου

Η λαμπρότητα του πεφταστεριού

Οι περιπλανήσεις του μυαλού

Το μούγκρισμα των αμμόλοφων

Παραμονεύουν

Ακόμα κι όταν το τζάμι είναι θολό

Και ένας σωρός σιωπής βρίσκεται ανάμεσά μας,

Ακόμα κι όταν μόνο μια γραμμή γνέθετε από αράχνη

Συνδέεται στην άδεια απεραντοσύνη της ερήμου

Κάτι σαν αγάπη παραμονεύει

Ακόμα και στην έχθρα

Greek translation by kind permission of © Paulos Ioannou

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[] acknowledgements:

Something Lingers was previously published in:

Realities (blac, cape town, p11, spring 1985);

A Celebration Of Flames, (donker, p51, 1987);

A Celebration of Flames, (heller fund, uc berkeley, california, usa, p43, 1988);

Iets Blijft Er Hangen: Dutch translation by Irene Scheltes (1989);

ΚΑΤΙ ΠΑΡΑΜΟΝΕΥΕΙ : Greek translation by Paulos Ioannou (2022):

A Celebration Of Flames (piquant publications, p52, 2007);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2012/05/something-lingers.html (29.05.2012);

A Celebration Of Flames (kindle, 2014);

A Celebration Of Flames (amazon paperback, p52, 2014).

___________________________________________________________________________

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 yuan (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 @ $20 & kindle @ only $5

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#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics

#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism

#a #celebration #of #flames #something #lingers

● poems @ https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

● linkedin @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/farouk-asvat-52a6b642

● sa history @ https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mohamed-farouk-asvat

● wikipedia @ https://en.everybodywiki.com/Farouk_Asvat

● youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlracNOh9E/faroukasvat

● all my books @ https://www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

● BE A REVOLUTIONARY!

"Remember that the highest rank that the human species can reach is to be a revolutionary."

● Ernesto (Ché) Guevara

"Always be a poet, even in prose."

● Charles Baudelaire

"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods."

● Ancient Chinese Proverb

22 May 2012

ADVICE FOR A MOTHER ...

ADVICE FOR A MOTHER LOOKING FOR HER CHILD AFTER A DAY OF 'UNREST'

for the children of #Palestine & #Azania*

Mamma,

If your child is not home

You will find her

At the police station

Mamma,

If he is not there

You will find her

At police headquarters

Mamma,

If she is not there

You will find him

At the local clinic

Mamma,

If he is not there

You will find her

At the hospital

Mamma,

If she is not there

You will find him

In exile

Mamma,

If he is not there

You will find her

At the mortuary

Mamma,

If she is not there

You will find him

In the cemetery

Mamma,

If he is not there

You will find

She is disappeared

Mamma,

If you cannot find them

You will find them

In a mass grave

composed:

after seeing my first images of the first #intifada on tv in amsterdam:

it reminded me of the similarity of the landscape and running battles in cape town

between pupils and the police:

10.12.1987 [the netherlands];

25.04.1988 [germany];

(*azania (what revolutionaries called the future country) still under #apartheid and strict censorship);

(#palestine during the first #intifaada).

§ THE WIND STILL SINGS SAD SONGS by FAROUK ASVAT §

"The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs"

"If you like poetry you’ll love the way this poet writes.

His voice and thoughts speak volumes in a way that can be understood by all."

● Leslie Howell - amazon 5-star review ***** - excellent read

● + 5-star review ***** on goodreads

"Currently reading a book of incredible poems by @faroukasvat

called ''The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs'.

The title poem brought me to tears."

● Léonicka; DynamicAfrica; et al on twitter

"The legend of poet extraordinaire Farouk Asvat: ... like vintage wine, proper poetry matures with time, and like vintage art the voice and wisdom of a poet worth the name is timeless."

● Mphutlane wa Bofelo, kagablog

"a guided tour of the souls of the South Africans he writes about and cares about.

Hauntingly universal ..."

● Thomas Rome, New York

"... they are very powerful literary missiles: ... capable of the most beguiling love poetry,

as can be seen in "Love Devours Me" ''.

● Asha Naidoo, Legal Resources Centre, at book launch

"The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs ... is an important addition to any discerning reader's literary collection."

● Victor Metsoamere, Sowetan

[] acknowledgements:

Advice For A Mother Looking For Her Child After A Day Of Unrest was previously published in:

Tribute (tribute magazine, p139, october 1990);

Descant (descant, toronto, canada, # 69, vol 21 (2), p7, summer 1990);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p92, 2006);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2012/05/advice-for-mother-looking-for-her-child.html (22.05.2012)

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (kindle, 2014);

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p90, 2014).