Spoken Word (18.05.2005)

Taha Muhammad Ali and Peter Cole

A reading and discussion with Palestinian Poet Taha Muhammad Ali and Translator Peter Cole

We are happy to invite you to the Red Lounge in the Willy Brandt Center Jerusalem to share with us a poetry evening with the Palestinian poet Taha Mohamad Ali.

After we die,
and the weary heart
Has lowered its final eyelid
On all that we’ve done,
And on all that we’ve longed for,
On all that we’ve dreamt of,
All we’ve desired
Or felt,
Hate will be the first thing
To putrefy within us.

Taha Mohamed Ali, 3.9.1991

From Arabic: Peter Cole, Gabi Levin and Yahya Hijazi

Taha was born in Zipori. The galilian village has been destroyed during the 1948 war. Today he lives in Nazarath. Tahar Mohamad Ali published 4 poetry books and one prose. Some of his writings were translated to english by the poet and writer Peter Cole and others.
While Taha reads his poems in Arabic, Peter Cole will read the English Translations.

We want to thank the Ibis Editions for their friendly support and cooperation while organising this evening.

"It is immediately evident that the poet´s vision of experience is equally applicable to Arabs and Jews, kings and paupers, the quarter of the world´s population that is Chinese, and the other three-quarters as well. Never Mind is a must. " Ha´aretz