ATLAS-A COLLECTION OF POEMS ON MOROCCO AND WESTERN SAHARA OUT NOW IN NORWAY
In this non-modest way, I want to announce the publication of my first book, Atlas. It is published by Flamme Forlag. (Actually it was published a few weeks ago.) The book contains poems from my travels in Morocco as well as a chapter on the conflict in Western Sahara. A review in the norwegian newspaper Klassekampen states: (...) it manages through its varied styles and non-totalizing perspective to invite the reader on the journey. (My translation.)
Atlas by Per Kristian Cani is sold through a bookstore near you (eh ... in Norway). Have a read!
Per Kristian Cani 4th of October 2011
A BRAND NEW POEM BY AGAILA ABBA-AND SOME OLDER ONES
Agaila Abba is a saharawi (from Western Sahara). She has written many poems about her people's struggle for independence. Below is a love poem, written only three days ago. In line six and seven you will read hassaniya, the mother tongue of the saharawis. (For translation: see below.) Following "My First Love" is a selection of some of her older poems. Also check out her blog: http://freeewesternsahara.blogspot.com/ Read this young woman now!
MY FIRST LOVE
Meeting you was a surprise
Looking at your brown eyes was a dream
Hearing your beautiful hassaniya accent
Captivated my heart
Loving you my darling was magic
Losing you ya 3mori my heart lost its prince.
Twa7tek ya Emir al Bidan.
(Translation: "ya 3mori" means "my life"; "Twa7tek ya Emir al Bidan" means "The prince of Bidan".)
DON'T CRY YA LAAYOUN
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me weep your tear way.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me take your sadness way
And bring a smile to your face.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me tell you jokes and
play dama with you.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me sing your favorite song.
“yal li gayes laayoun 7agal la 7anini”
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me be the glass of tea that takes
your headache way.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me be the sea fire that will
bring your children peace.
Don’t cry ya laayoun
But let me be the freedom that
you are waiting for.
Don’t cry ya laayoun
But let me be the vaccine that will heal your
wounds and diseases.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me be the unity that will bring
all the Saharawi together to your homeland
(Western Sahara) .
Don’t cry ya laayoun
but let me be the word of wisdom
that will guide your path straight .
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but let me be the justice that will
Bring blessing to your Jaima.
But let me be your dignity and prosperity
that will raise your name up high.
Don’t cry ya Laayoun
but Let me be your Sahara libre.
don’t cry, don’t cry ya Laayoun
because all I want to be is for you, and that what you are is for me. Also because
I love more than anything.
LOS OJOS DEL SAHARA
Mira esos ojos tan bellos y exotic
que puedes ver toda la profundida,
y la vida del desierto.
No importa de que color son esos ojos
marones, negros o si es possible ,
azules o verdes todos son ojos del Sahara.
Echele una mirada esos ojos en la izquierada
puedes ver una Jaima y gente con malita
esperando para vuelver al Sahara.
En la derecha puedes ver
una casa a lado de la orilla del mar
y gente celebrando la inpendencia.
En esos ojos puedes ver el sufriemento del Pasado ,
la larga espera del Presente
y el sueno y el deseo del Futuro
Esos ojos son concido;
Por ser ojos de Paloma de Paz
Por ser ojos de Esperanza
Por ser ojos de Rio de Passion
Por ser ojos el mar de Amor
Sobre todos son conocido por ser
Ojos del Sahara.
Dedicada a todas las mujeres Saharawi.
ALGERIA MY LOVE
Algeria my love
Listen to me…
I was orphaned and you adopted me as your own beloved child.
I was rejected and drawn into the wilderness and left without a name,
but you accepted me and gave me your honorable name.
My identity was crushed and turned apart, but you raised my head up high and gave me a culture to celebrate.
Algeria my love
Listen to me…
My land was taken away and I was left homeless,
but you opened your arms and gave me a land to call my own.
I was bombed, shot, raped, burned and abandoned, alone without
anybody to care, but you came using your hand as a bandage and your heart as a vaccine healing my wound and taking my pain away.
Every night I cried myself to sleep not knowing how to endure the pain, but you came and wiped my tears away and said, “Rise up.
I am on your side in this fight no matter what”
I was captured and chained--both hands and feets--and you came with your mighty sword, breaking the chains off and giving me the wings of freedom to fly.
Algeria my love
Listen to me…
When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat.
When I was thirsty, you gave me water to drink.
When I was cold, you gave me a blanket to keep warm.
When I was sick, you gave me medicine to get well.
When I was sad, you came and brought my smile back.
Algeria my love
Listen to me…
I was drowning in the flood and your mighty hand came to my rescue.
I was afraid, and your embrace became my security.
I was all alone without anyone to talk to and you held my hand, becoming my best friend.
I didn’t know how to write my name and you gave me an education.
I was lost not knowing which path to take and you came with your wisdom and good counsel to guide me everyday.
Algeria my love
Listen to me…
Because of you, I am alive today.
Because of you, I am who I am today.
Because of you, I have hope today.
Because of you, I am no longer afraid today.
Because of you, I am proud of my Saharawi identity today.
Because of you, your children are my friends today.
Because of you, I have learned to accept every race today.
Because of you, I love you more everyday.
My beloved Algeria
Listen to me….
(You are the fire of passion that burns in my heart)
