The Year of Famine Short story by Arafat Musleh Translated by Hatem Al-Shamea It was a serene morning with a cloudless sky, but suddenly, the heavens darkened as if something had soured its mood. These unexpected clouds were an unwelcome guest to the villagers whose crops were still drying on the flat, rocky …
The Curse By Nabiha Mahdur Translated by Hatem Al-Shamea She retreated to a secluded spot, concealing the turmoil that churned within her. With each kick, regret slapped her like a stinging blow. Her forehead beaded with sweat, shards of pain tearing through her being. She cursed herself a thousand times, cursing the day she surrendered …
The Priest’s Vision! by Ahmed Abdo translated by Hatem Al-Shamea My problem was with the time factor, as every minute counts for me. In a quarter of an hour, a live broadcast of an “exceptional” Mass from the Vatican will begin. Half of our time evaporates, and we do not grieve …
Ruined Appointments by Arafat Musleh translated by Hatem Al-Shamea He entered the bar slowly, late for his usual arrival time. The bar was bathed in a pale golden light, and its wooden tables, half-covered in red leather, were scattered with a few drinkers who wouldn’t be staying long. He turned slightly to the right …
In the Reverie of Dreams Ayoub’s Journey Between a Dreamy Introspection and Daydream By Abdallah M. El-Zoubi* In the heart of the Jordanian capital, nestled adjacent to the Arab Bank, lies a renowned literary and political café. Here, amidst the flickering glow of ornate golden lanterns, Ayoub sat ensconced in solitude. His face, pallid …
Standing as One by Hatem Al-Shamea Sami scrolled through the heartbreaking photos on his phone – emaciated children bombed out neighborhoods. Yemen was facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, and millions had been forced from their homes by years of civil war. As a Yemeni himself, the scenes of suffering tore at …
Whispering Discs a short story by Ahmed Abdo translated by Hatem Mohammed Al-Shamea The night of the village was like my mother’s shawl on the day of my funeral! Except for flashes of light that sparkled in the beads of people’s eyes, from the remnants of the glow of electric bulbs in homes …
A Man in the Dark a short story by Saeed Mohammed Al-Hammadi translated by Hatem Al-Shamea He rose from his seat and peered out the window. Pitch darkness enveloped everything. He thought, “This is a night of utter blackness. It seems like the middle of the night, and the moon and stars are hidden …
A New Home He moved with his beloved from that suffocating situation, and the smells that used to give him a headache. Fate led them to a home that shone with its brilliance, and food that they had never dreamed of. Everything was elegant. This is the paradise, then, that they are stingy with us. …
A New Home – Nabila Al-Sheikh – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Map of Sorrow and Wind Author: Ahmed Mohamed Abdo – Egypt Translated by Hatem Al-Shamea Geography: Perhaps this patch is the skin of a cow or a buffalo! Its vastness and sprawling ends, as it is spread out and pinned to the wall of the classroom, indicates that it is most likely for a domesticated …
Map of Sorrow and Wind – Ahmed Abdo – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Peaches My grandmother, with her slender figure brimming with vitality, her wide glasses partially concealing her tender features, her lone eye assisting her, casting light to protect us, indulge us. One day, as she leaned over the firewood with an axe in hand for baking bread, she bid farewell to her other eye. She always …
Peaches – by Nabilah Al-Sheikh – trans: Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Surprise For a stretch of time, he had been circling around me, and I, consumed by my own concerns, scarcely acknowledged his presence. Yet, his proximity escalated, his attempts to draw near adopting a veneer of friendliness. I articulated my unequivocal refusal, branding his overtures as an act of desperation. While I dismissed the situation …
Surprise – by Nabilah Al-Sheikh – trans: Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Shawi on The Internet He was met with a flurry of photographers and journalists from international media outlets, all asking him questions. What had been his most recent relationship? Was it true that Zahra was his one true love? Was it true that he had a personal designer to dress him in his stylish attire? …
Shawi on The Internet – Maha Salah . trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Fear I asked him, “How old are you?” He replied, “Seven years.” As I watched, a bare-chested child wearing shabby, torn pants passed me, carrying a heavy brick. He appeared weak and small enough to be working instead of playing with toys like our children. I followed him with my heart and observed his wide …
Fear – Nabilah Al-Sheikh – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
Behind the Walls of Memory The fifty-year-old woman enters the room, holds a glass of milk in her hand, and says: How are you this morning, my son? Still looking at the picture, as usual!… -I am trying to recall how and when this memory appeared and disappeared behind the ticking of the clock. I …
Behind the Walls of Memory – Suhair Assamman – trans. Hatem Al-Shamea Read More »
The Gravedigger “It is not easy to become a gravedigger.” With these words, Abdul Mujoud concluded his long talk with his new assistant in the room overlooking the cemetery. The young man rose, expressing his frustration with the repetition of such words, and walked toward the door murmuring softly: “Always words and advice. This old …
The Gravedigger – Sameer Abdelfattah – 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 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 »
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 …
A bizarre occurrence arose – I felt no shame over my nakedness! Not even my personal doctor had ever seen me in such a state. Yet she gazed upon me without discomfort. We were in a room that outwardly resembled a phone booth in size but inwardly was spacious like the fortified headquarters of our …
