EVERYTHING I TOUCH

EVERYTHING I TOUCH 

© Farouk Asvat  

Everything I touch

Bruises me

Everything that caresses me

Taints me

With the scent of death:

     So much blood

     Is wasted in youth

     That cannot be gathered

     Into the hands of wisdom

© farouk asvat

composed: 04.09.1986 & 11.07.1990

                  [Alexandra, Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid]

     for Lionel Abrahams in Alexandra Township

[] Acknowledgements:

Everything I Touch was previously published in:

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p35, 2006);

     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (26.11.2013);

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

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p33, 2014).

______________________________________________________________

[§] 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)

● 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

> @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

______________________________________________________________

© 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.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante: www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

piqued: www.faroukasvat-piqued.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+: www.google.com/+faroukasvat

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/farouk-asvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

youtube: www.youtube.com/c/faroukasvat

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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

#the wind still sings sad songs #everything I touch

     www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat 

THE BURGUNDY ROSE

THE BURGUNDY ROSE 

© Farouk Asvat  

The burgundy rose of my love burns

Into a festering wound

The bloodied roses of my revolution

Decay into dark bouquets of death:

     Weeds never wither

     They linger

     Like wreaths of despair

     Broken bones in winter

© farouk asvat

# composed:

     16.06.1986: (10th commemoration of 16 June 1976);

     16.06.1986: flowers [Alexandra Township, South Africa under apartheid under apartheid],

     18.07.1990: weeds [Alexandra, under apartheid];

     07.04.1991: the burgundy rose [Alexandra, under apartheid].

     for Lionel Abrahams in Alexandra Township

[] Acknowledgements:

The Burgundy Rose was previously published in:

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p34, 2006);

     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (19.11.2013);

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

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p32, 2014).

______________________________________________________________

[§] 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)

● 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

> @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

______________________________________________________________

© 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.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante: www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

piqued: www.faroukasvat-piqued.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+: www.google.com/+faroukasvat

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/farouk-asvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

youtube: www.youtube.com/c/faroukasvat

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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

#the wind still sings sad songs #the burgundy rose #burgundy #rose  

     www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat 

GLASS

GLASS 

© Farouk Asvat  

Shattered pane

Lies in the dusty street:

     The looking glass of youth

     The mirror of adolescent confidence

     And the windowpane of winter coziness

Lies crunched in the gravel

As the broken soles

Of schoolchildren flee

The arrogant boots

Of earnest policemen

© farouk asvat

composed: 27.08.1986 [Alexandra, Johannesburg, South Africa under apartheid]

     for Lionel Abrahams in Alexandra Township

[] Acknowledgements:

Glass was previously published in:

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p33, 2006);

     www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com (12.11.2013);

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

     The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p31, 2014).

______________________________________________________________

[§] 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)

● 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

> @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

______________________________________________________________

© 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.

farouk asvat can be contacted at: farouk.asvat@gmail.com

[] please check out my blogs @:

poems: www.faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com

weapons of words: www.faroukasvat-viewpoint.blogspot.com

piquante: www.faroukasvat-piquant.blogspot.com

piqued: www.faroukasvat-piqued.blogspot.com

books by farouk asvat: www.faroukasvat-books.blogspot.com

[] also link up on:

google+: www.google.com/+faroukasvat

linkedin: www.linkedin.com/farouk-asvat

facebook: www.facebook.com/faroukasvat

youtube: www.youtube.com/c/faroukasvat

twitter: www.twitter.com/faroukasvat

amazon kindle author @ www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]

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

#the wind still sings sad songs #glass

     www.amazon.com/author/faroukasvat 

THE FRONT DOOR

THE FRONT DOOR 

© Farouk Asvat  

     This emblem of character

     This portal for lovers

     Is a skimpy friend,

     This husher of squabbles

     This barrier against thugs

     Is a flimsy divide

     - Not made of T'zitzikama imbuia

       But blue painted pinewood:

       Skewed planks fitted together

       Decorated with an old brass knob -

     It is poor against the wind

     And at keeping out drunks;

     But still I close it

     Against the icy scalpels of winter

     Against the windy songs of August

     Against the earthy smell of the rains

     Where worlds can be reduced

     To designer homes.

But now

This welcome barricade

Is also an invasion

Expecting a knock at anytime:

A familiar face

Inviting you to a holiday in prison

Or a comrade

Bringing you a friendly death threat

© farouk asvat

composed: 05.06.1986 [alexandra township, johannesburg, south africa under #apartheid] 

___________________________________________________________________________    

§ THE WIND STILL SINGS SAD SONGS by FAROUK ASVAT

"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

● AMAZON 5-star review *****

"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.

 - an excellent read'' - Leslie Howell

● GOODREADS 5-star review *****

@ https://www.goodreads.com/faroukasvat

re: ''She Loved Me'': 

''So few words conveying so much. Beautiful bitter-sweetness.''

● Philip Low, G+

"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

"You are amazing!!!!! … vey impressive".

● Jill Townsend, Council of Grandmothers, Ojai, CA, USA

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

● Victor Metsoamere, Sowetan

___________________________________________________________________________    

[§] 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 paperback & kindle editions

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

__________________________________________________________________________    

[] acknowledgements:

     for Lionel Abrahams in Alexandra Township

The Front Door was previously published in:

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (piquant publications, p32, 2006);

https://faroukasvat-poems.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-front-door.html (05.11.2013);

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

The Wind Still Sings Sad Songs (amazon paperback, p30, 2014).

__________________________________________________________________________    

© 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

#the wind still sings sad songs #the #front #door

● 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