Gone, what’s gone And the sidewalk persists To the depths of my heart, bleeding flows I try to remember something of life Something about love on a summer starry night Did I have a homeland and a beloved? Why am I above this sidewalk? I waited and exaggerated in waiting My expectations were surpassed I …
Gone, What’s Gone – Fatima Al-Ashabi. Trans: Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
The Studio At noon, the crowd was immense and they were lined up in front of the post office window, eagerly awaiting their salaries. During the wait, they counted their debts, speculated how much of their meagre salaries would be left and discussed their financial predicaments. One woman stood out in the line – her …
The Studio – Nabilah Al-Sheikh – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
No Name No Address He gazed up at the ceiling of the room he shared with his wife and three children, recalling a time when life was simpler and he slept with peace of mind, knowing his salary would come at the end of the month to cover his obligations. Tears streamed down his face …
No Name No Address – Najat Ba Hakeem – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Bait He approached her with love, smiled at her kindly, extended a hand of goodwill, raising the flags of peace. She approached confidently, and a bullet pierced her wing, revealing that he was… the hunter! Disappointment – Eman Al-Maziji – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea
Disappointment We stood in the same place, our eyes fixed on the target. Each of us tried to distract the other to seize the opportunity. He was faster than me, grabbed the meal from the ground, and fled, leaving me crying, hungry. That dog. Unknown Place – Saeed Mohammed Al-Hammadi – (trans.): Hatem Al-Shamea
Unknown Place Evening descended heavily upon the city, and the stars suspended in the sky unveiled the curtain of the night. He was sitting in his room, a room measuring three meters, with just one bed. He loved lying on the floor above the sponge. In front of him were drawings and diagrams. In his …
Unknown Place – Saeed Mohammed Al-Hammadi – (trans.): Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
The Ten Nights A bottle filled with oil, another with gas, and a hundred loaves of bread, they awaited their arrival every morning with bated breath. She sat on a stone in front of the frying pan and the gas burner, which she kept with her every day, under the watchful eye of Uncle Mohammed, …
The Ten Nights – Fatima Wahidi – trans. by: Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Escape of a Corpse Its threads sneaked through the gaps in the curtains, flirting with the bare hairs on his chest. He felt their pricks, tossed on the edge of the bed, his eyelids heavy as if they didn’t know if he had been sleeping for a day or two in the depths of slumber. …
Escape of a Corpse – a short story by Entesar Asseri – trans. by Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
“Memory” The short story “Memory” written by the Yemeni short story writer, Entesar Asseri, invites readers into a world characterized by amnesia and fragmented recollections. This narrative explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of human consciousness. It delves into the surreal realm of the protagonist’s mind, where he grapples with the absence of …
Let them bomb, you are not a target let them rage, you are far more enraged Let them mobilize, you know that well The most terrifying are the most fearful *** Richer, but more miserable Weaker, but more brazen Hidden, but more obvious Ashamed, but more distinguished They have iron and fire But they are …
Let Them Bomb – A Poem by Abdullah Al-Baraduni – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Memory After my mind submitted its resignation and declared its departure from work, I began to suffer and endure the daily toil of searching for a new memory. Oh, that memory! Where did it disappear to? Did I need to recall it before I went to sleep? Where are you, you elusive one? Oh, maybe …
Memory – a short story by Entesar Asseri – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
A Loaf of Bread (رغيف)Black Sack – by Ali Abdullah Al-Ajri With reddened eyes, brimming with tears, he approached with faltering steps. His legs bumped into each other as he made his way towards the wise man of the neighborhood. “Sir, this is my brother, yes, my only brother,” he said. “I didn’t visit him …
A Loaf of Bread (رغيف) – A short story by Entesar Asseri – translated by Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Introduction: “Black Sack” is a thought-provoking short story written by Yemeni author Ali Abdullah Al-Ajri. The narrative explores themes of power, manipulation, and the consequences of blind obedience. Through its vivid imagery and symbolic elements, the story invites readers to reflect on the dangers of relinquishing personal agency and the potential dehumanization that can arise …
Black Sack Our department was one of the most important in the country. It used to be bustling with a large number of employees until it was hit by a mysterious epidemic, which caused most of the staff to flee and abandon their work completely. Only ten people remained in the department, including myself and …
The Appointment She gazed at the walls of her room, feeling a sense of confinement. Dishevelled clothes lay scattered on the bed and shelves. Her eyes turned towards the four-door wardrobe, and her reflection appeared in the mirror. It was a beautiful image, with a slender nose, prominent lips, circular black eyes, and a bronze …
The Struggle for Identity and Resistance in Mahmoud Darwish’s “O Passersby among Transient Words” by Hatem Al-Shamea Introduction: Mahmoud Darwish’s poem “O Passersby among Transient Words” is a powerful and poignant piece that captures the essence of Palestinian identity, resistance, and the longing for freedom. In this short analysis, we will delve into the profound …
The Enamoured Demon-Possessed a novel by Ahmed Abdu Translated By Hatem Al-Shamea Excerption from the novel Prelude We believed in God and that dinosaurs could go extinct, and indeed it happened. However, they left behind herds of cats. These were the words of Ibn Hathoot, uttered when he emerged from seclusion one day, venturing …
The Enamoured Demon-Possessed – by Ahmed Abdu – Trans. by: Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Chapter One It was the season when Mokhtar’s father had deemed him ready for marriage, and Mokhtar assumed the guise of a demure maiden, cloaking himself in an aura of modesty. He was well aware that this façade of shyness was not born out of genuine timidity, but rather an escape from a predetermined fate …
Al-Thajjah – a Novel written by Fikria Shahrah – trans. by Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
