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THE ABDUCTIONBy Maram Al-Masri
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Hélène Cardona’s masterful translation of The Abduction by French-Syrian poet Maram Al-Masri contains luminescent pages where readers will traverse tidal currents of raw emotion, passionate love, and the sting of separation. Unfurled through motifs of motherhood, nascent innocence, the ache of parting, and the fragility of memory, these verses offer a rare glimpse into the psyche of a mother torn from her offspring. This collection of poems is a sacred remembrance, reminding the reader of our deep connections between a parent and child and within the family. And the deep sorrows we face when those connections are sundered unexpectedly.
A Deep Dive into the Heartbeats of the Collection:
A Mother’s Love - The Eternal Flame:
“Nine Months” unfurls the marvel of life's genesis and the sacred bond tethering mother and child—a sentiment further crystallized in poems and verses like “He has begun to speak to me” and “I hugged him.” Pieces such as “I talk to him” lay bare the intimate dialogues, those whispered secrets, bridging souls across time.
The Chill of Absence:
A sad turn emerges with “With these two hands.” The rawness of grief echoes in verses like “O human brothers” and “Every morning,” depicting a mother's desolate landscape marked by her child's vanishing silhouette.
Echoes from Yesteryears:
“Under the bed” and “Remember” recall fragments of a presence now lost, those tender imprints a mother clutches amidst her sorrow.
The Lighthearted Days of Yore:
Verses such as “Like a duck” and “Dance, dance” are luminous snippets capturing youth's exuberance, contrasting the collection's melancholic tapestry.
In the Shadows of Larger Cataclysms:
“War rages in Rwanda” juxtaposes personal anguish against grand-scale tragedies, hinting that solitary or widespread pain tugs the heartstrings with equal vigor.
Crafting the Narrative:
Reiteration adds cadence and weight, especially apparent in “Nine Months.” Rich imagery—like the sun’s “tresses of gold” or fledgling birds taking flight—fashions a vivid emotional landscape. There’s an interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the collection's poignant duality.
This work traces a tender arc from the jubilation of anticipation to the profound chasm of loss. It's a testament to the transient nature of life and the enduring connections binding us. Delving deeper into the collection’s second half of poems, one encounters a rich tapestry of human experiences—from life's twilight and the bonds that bind to the weight of memory and the immigrant narrative.
Exploring Further Realms:
Life's Ebbing Sands:
Poems like “I’m not so old” elucidate the sad march of time and the bittersweet residue it leaves behind.
The Mother’s Embrace:
Verses such as “I promise you, Mother” and “Blessed are those who sleep deeply” echo a mother's unwavering shield against the world's blows.
The Bittersweet Dance of Parting and Meeting:
“First encounter” and “Five years after our encounter” wade through the torment of separation and the balm of reunions.
Memory’s Gentle Caress:
Poems like “From my window” reflect the delicate art of reminiscing.
The Vigil of Hope:
“I wait for you when I’m awake” captures the poignant tension of yearning.
Tales of Resilience amid Despair:
Verses such as “Dusk no longer has your eyes” grapple with desolation yet hint at an underlying tenacity.
Tales from Foreign Shores:
Poems like “The World is Hard, My Son” voice the struggles those seeking refuge on distant horizons face.
The Tangled Web of Affection:
“To love” and “Why do we love them?” muse upon love's multifaceted nature—its trials, tribulations, and timeless allure.
"Why do we love them?
we love them because we’ve seen them
as small bundles of cotton in our hands"
The poems serve as windows, offering vistas of shared human experiences and the myriad emotions that crisscross our lives, beckoning readers to pause, ponder, and find solace in our shared humanity. They offer a rare glimpse into the psyche of a mother torn from her offspring. The verses explore the full range of emotions such a separation can evoke, from the jubilation of anticipation to the profound chasm of loss.
The collection has a natural division. The first half focuses on the mother-child bond, from conception to the child's departure from home. The poems celebrate the joy of motherhood and the deep connection between mother and child.
The second half of the collection explores the theme of loss. These poems reveal the pain of separation, the longing for reunion, and the struggle to heal and move forward. The verses are raw and emotional, offering a powerful testament to the power of love. Verses are beautifully crafted, with rich imagery and evocative language. The poems will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of loss or the joy of motherhood.
This collection is excellent for anyone seeking a moving and thought-provoking read. It is a powerful reminder of love's power and a family's importance. And the vulnerability of our humanity and what it means to be fully human in a world of so much estrangement, separation, and unbearable contradictions. The Abduction will be a treasured addition to any library. It is a powerful translation and moving collection of poems that will stay with the reader long after they finish reading the last verses.
“To love, it is to prepare yourself / to be abandoned.”
“Who will accuse me / of making a gift of my body / to love?
“To write / is to be the boat that saves the drowning”
A Deep Dive into the Heartbeats of the Collection:
A Mother’s Love - The Eternal Flame:
“Nine Months” unfurls the marvel of life's genesis and the sacred bond tethering mother and child—a sentiment further crystallized in poems and verses like “He has begun to speak to me” and “I hugged him.” Pieces such as “I talk to him” lay bare the intimate dialogues, those whispered secrets, bridging souls across time.
The Chill of Absence:
A sad turn emerges with “With these two hands.” The rawness of grief echoes in verses like “O human brothers” and “Every morning,” depicting a mother's desolate landscape marked by her child's vanishing silhouette.
Echoes from Yesteryears:
“Under the bed” and “Remember” recall fragments of a presence now lost, those tender imprints a mother clutches amidst her sorrow.
The Lighthearted Days of Yore:
Verses such as “Like a duck” and “Dance, dance” are luminous snippets capturing youth's exuberance, contrasting the collection's melancholic tapestry.
In the Shadows of Larger Cataclysms:
“War rages in Rwanda” juxtaposes personal anguish against grand-scale tragedies, hinting that solitary or widespread pain tugs the heartstrings with equal vigor.
Crafting the Narrative:
Reiteration adds cadence and weight, especially apparent in “Nine Months.” Rich imagery—like the sun’s “tresses of gold” or fledgling birds taking flight—fashions a vivid emotional landscape. There’s an interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the collection's poignant duality.
This work traces a tender arc from the jubilation of anticipation to the profound chasm of loss. It's a testament to the transient nature of life and the enduring connections binding us. Delving deeper into the collection’s second half of poems, one encounters a rich tapestry of human experiences—from life's twilight and the bonds that bind to the weight of memory and the immigrant narrative.
Exploring Further Realms:
Life's Ebbing Sands:
Poems like “I’m not so old” elucidate the sad march of time and the bittersweet residue it leaves behind.
The Mother’s Embrace:
Verses such as “I promise you, Mother” and “Blessed are those who sleep deeply” echo a mother's unwavering shield against the world's blows.
The Bittersweet Dance of Parting and Meeting:
“First encounter” and “Five years after our encounter” wade through the torment of separation and the balm of reunions.
Memory’s Gentle Caress:
Poems like “From my window” reflect the delicate art of reminiscing.
The Vigil of Hope:
“I wait for you when I’m awake” captures the poignant tension of yearning.
Tales of Resilience amid Despair:
Verses such as “Dusk no longer has your eyes” grapple with desolation yet hint at an underlying tenacity.
Tales from Foreign Shores:
Poems like “The World is Hard, My Son” voice the struggles those seeking refuge on distant horizons face.
The Tangled Web of Affection:
“To love” and “Why do we love them?” muse upon love's multifaceted nature—its trials, tribulations, and timeless allure.
"Why do we love them?
we love them because we’ve seen them
as small bundles of cotton in our hands"
The poems serve as windows, offering vistas of shared human experiences and the myriad emotions that crisscross our lives, beckoning readers to pause, ponder, and find solace in our shared humanity. They offer a rare glimpse into the psyche of a mother torn from her offspring. The verses explore the full range of emotions such a separation can evoke, from the jubilation of anticipation to the profound chasm of loss.
The collection has a natural division. The first half focuses on the mother-child bond, from conception to the child's departure from home. The poems celebrate the joy of motherhood and the deep connection between mother and child.
The second half of the collection explores the theme of loss. These poems reveal the pain of separation, the longing for reunion, and the struggle to heal and move forward. The verses are raw and emotional, offering a powerful testament to the power of love. Verses are beautifully crafted, with rich imagery and evocative language. The poems will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of loss or the joy of motherhood.
This collection is excellent for anyone seeking a moving and thought-provoking read. It is a powerful reminder of love's power and a family's importance. And the vulnerability of our humanity and what it means to be fully human in a world of so much estrangement, separation, and unbearable contradictions. The Abduction will be a treasured addition to any library. It is a powerful translation and moving collection of poems that will stay with the reader long after they finish reading the last verses.
“To love, it is to prepare yourself / to be abandoned.”
“Who will accuse me / of making a gift of my body / to love?
“To write / is to be the boat that saves the drowning”
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THE ABDUCTION by Maram Al-Masri
Translated by Hélène Cardona Publisher : White Pine Press (2023) Language : English Paperback : 100 pages ISBN-13 : 978-1945680618 |
Hélène Cardona
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Hélène Cardona's books include Life in Suspension and Dreaming My Animal Selves (Salmon Poetry) and the translations The Abduction (Maram Al-Masri, White Pine Press), Birnam Wood (José Manuel Cardona, Salmon Poetry), Beyond Elsewhere (Gabriel Arnou-Laujeac, White Pine Press), Ce que nous portons (Dorianne Laux, Éditions du Cygne), and Walt Whitman's Civil War Writings (University of Iowa's WhitmanWeb).
Hélène has received over 20 honors & awards, including the Independent Press Award, a Hemingway Grant, and an Albertine and FACE Foundation Grant. She holds an MA in American Literature from the Sorbonne, worked as a translator for the Canadian Embassy, and taught at Hamilton College and LMU. Hélène Cardona's Website: http://helenecardona.com IMDb Website: http://imdb.me/helenecardona |
Maram Al-Masri
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Maram Al-Masri was born in Latakia, Syria, and moved to France after completing English Literature studies at Damascus University. She is the recipient of many prestigious literary prizes, including the Prix d'Automne de Poésie de la Société des Gens De Lettres, the Adonis Prize, the Premio Citta di Calopezzati, Il Fiore d'Argento, and the Dante Alighieri Prize.
Her poetry collections include Je te regarde, Cerise rouge sur un carrelage blanc, Par la fontaine de ma bouche, Elle va nue la liberté, Je te menace d'une colombe blanche, Le Rapt, and two anthologies, including Femmes poètes du monde arabe. |
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THE ABDUCTION
by Maram Al-Masri Translated by Hélène Cardona Publisher : White Pine Press (2023) Language : English Paperback : 100 pages ISBN-13 : 978-1945680618 |
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This arrangement does help to sustain the press and allow us to publish more books by more authors.