A review by robotswithpersonality
January Children by Safia Elhillo
Poet's experience of alienation, violence, colonialism, colourism, racism, in Sudan (Egypt?) and the US.
The inclusion of Arabic within the poems is eloquent in conveying how unlikely it is that I can fully grasp all the layers of meaning present, (though there is a glossary and notes in the back that may assist) any more than I can share all the poet has experienced. Still, I owed it to her work to try.
I think formatting is both artistic choice and a calculated method of slowing reading down to reflect further, but I think it messed with my reading comprehension.
Just a humbling reminder that I'm still a novice at understanding poetry.
The inclusion of Arabic within the poems is eloquent in conveying how unlikely it is that I can fully grasp all the layers of meaning present, (though there is a glossary and notes in the back that may assist) any more than I can share all the poet has experienced. Still, I owed it to her work to try.
I think formatting is both artistic choice and a calculated method of slowing reading down to reflect further, but I think it messed with my reading comprehension.
Just a humbling reminder that I'm still a novice at understanding poetry.