Schism by Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi
Featuring: Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, Sarah Maguire
This week's poem 'Schism' is by Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi from Sudan. The poem is read first in English translation by Sarah Maguire and then in Arabic by Saddiq himself.
This poem is from the collection 'He Tells Tails of Meroe' inspired by the Petrie Museum’s collection of material from ancient Sudan.
Notes
The title ‘Schism’ points to the fissures over the brittle deep green surface of the object. It was prompted here in particular by the crack across the outward offering- channel above the depiction of the offering-table, alerting us to the fragility of the archaeological find.
Sarah Maguire, Poet-translator
* Garmasis, is a coloured sheet of silky fabric, worn (rapped around), (in the past) by the bride on her wedding night, specially on the night of consummation of marriage, it represents a subtle, unspoken symbol, among others, of sexual activeness within marriage, and usually part of the things that a new bride must have in her wardrobe when she go to live with her husband.
Atef Alshaer, Literal Translator
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