18 September 2012

TO THE QUINTESSENCE OF CLAY

TO THE QUINTESSENCE OF CLAY 
© Farouk Asvat 

I cannot show you
The spectral gardens
That were not meant for you
The signs that barred us from the world
I cannot show you the buckshot
That would have shattered your chest

But can you see
The rusted chains
That lie in my heart
Like an anchor

That makes me want you
To stay free
Sailing as an atom and a light
Upon the winds of the universe

But still
I know
You will come
To partake in this laughter

© farouk asvat

[] composed: 09.06.1985 [johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid ].
___________________________________________________________________________    
[§] 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
■ Buy the paperback and get the kindle edition free!
___________________________________________________________________________    
¨ 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
___________________________________________________________________________    
ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΠΕΜΠΤΟΥΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΗΛΟΥ

     Greek translation by © Paulos Ioannou 

Δεν μπορώ να σου δείξω
Τους φασματικούς κήπους
Που δεν προορίζονταν για σένα
Οι ενδείξεις που μας απέκλεισαν από τον κόσμο
Δεν μπορώ να σου δείξω τα σκάγια
Που θα θρυμμάτιζαν το στήθος σου

Αλλά μπορείς να δεις
Τις σκουριασμένες αλυσίδες
Που βρίσκονται στην καρδιά μου
Σαν άγκυρα

Αυτό με κάνει να θέλω
Να μείνεις ελεύθερη
Πλέοντας σαν άτομο και φως
Πάνω στους ανέμους του σύμπαντος

Αλλά ακόμα
Ξέρω
Θα έρθεις
Να συμμετάσχεις σε αυτό το γέλιο

     Greek translation by kind permission of © Paulos Ioannou 
___________________________________________________________________________    
[] acknowledgements:
To The Quintessence Of Clay was previously published in:
Sesame 15 (Renoster Books, Johannesburg, p23, Autumn 1992);
A Writer In Stone: sa writers celebrate lionel abraham's 70th birthday:
     ed g friedman & r blumenthal (david philip, cape town, p183, 1998);
A Celebration Of Flames (piquant publications, p37, 2007);
ΠΡΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΠΕΜΠΤΟΥΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΗΛΟΥ: Greek translation by © Paulos Ioannou;
A Celebration Of Flames (kindle, 2014);
A Celebration Of Flames (amazon paperback, p39, 2014)

''Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay)''
     • Qur'an 23:12 (the A. Yusuf Ali translation, Lahore, 1934).

''''
     • Qur'an 23:12 - translation by Farouk Asvat
___________________________________________________________________________    
© 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 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
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

#love #literature #fiction #novel #poetry #southafrica #apartheid #books #classics
#faroukasvat #weapons #of #words #comparative #literature #literary #criticism
#a #celebration #of #flames #to #the #quintessence #of #clay


● 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

#liberate #palestine
#stop #massacres
#stop #genocide

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