The Garret: Writing & Publishing Ep 266: Sara Saleh on writing poetry and creating 'The Gaza Suite'
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Feb 25, 2024 Sara Saleh, a poet, writer, and human rights lawyer of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Egyptian heritage, discusses her compelling poetry collection 'The Flirtation of Girls/Ghazal el-Banat.' She delves into the significance of the title and the cohesive nature of her poems. Sara reveals how Arabic poetic traditions shape her work and emphasizes poetry's unique intimacy. She reads powerful pieces from 'The Gaza Suite,' reflecting on contemporary struggles. Additionally, she advocates for stronger support for marginalized writers and the importance of amplifying diverse voices.
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Poetry's Economy Forces Honesty
- Poetry's economy makes it more intimate and less tolerant of dishonesty than the novel form.
- Scarcity of words forces precision: commas and full stops carry weight and shape intimacy.
Arabic Poetics Shape English Lines
- Arabic poetic traditions, rhythm and musicality seep into Saleh's English poems even without formal study.
- She codeswitches dialects mentally and imports Arabic sound, rhyme and song into English verse.
Live Reading: The Ghazza Suite
- Saleh reads three linked poems she calls The Ghazza Suite, including a new piece written in October called Say Free Palestine.
- The short, repetitive poem reframes everyday phrases by appending the political imperative "say Free Palestine."
