The Silence That Remains

<p>[A] rare occurrence in the poetry world.-<I>American Book Review</I></p><p>As a child Ghassan Zaqtan lived in a refugee camp near the River Jordan. While that painful experience deeply influenced his poetry when Zaqtan was awarded the prestigious Griffin International Prize the judges noted: His words turn dark into light hatred into love death into life. His magic leads us to the clearing where hope becomes possible where healing begins across individuals countries races.</p><p>When interviewed by PBS for their special on Palestinian poets Zaqtan said I am not the kind of person who will walk in front of the demonstration. I walk behind the demonstration in order to collect the small things that may fall whether it's the handkerchief or a child's backpack or a purse.</p><p>This generous volume represents two decades of incandescent creativity.</p><p>Handkerchief</p><p>Nothing's left to say between us<BR>everything went<BR>into the train that hid its whistle<BR>in the smoke that didn't become a cloud<BR>in the departure that gathered your limbs<BR>Nothing's left to say between us<BR>so let your death be<BR>the insight of dazzling silver<BR>and let the sun of those cities<BR>be a rose on your shoulders</p><p><B>Ghassan Zaqtan</B> is the author of over a dozen books of poetry and fiction and has edited the poetry journal <I>Al-Soua'ra</I> and the literary magazine of the Palestine Liberation Organization <I>Bayader</I>. He lives in the West Bank city of Ramallah where he is the Founding Director of The House of Poetry.</p>