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[The terrorist at my table] [By: Dharker, Imtiaz] [April, 2006]
This collection asks crucial questions about how we live - what do any of us know about the person who shares this street, this house, this table, this body. ""...Pakistani poet Imtiaz Dharker reflects on some of the salient themes of lyric the self in identity flux, migration, travel, time, women and men, politics, particularly politics. Many of these selections directly respond to the fallout of the 2001 World Trade Center bombings for the Islamic community, in particular, and humanity at large.""--World Literature Review
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
First published September 1, 2006
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About the author
Imtiaz Dharker
20 books40 followersImtiaz Dharker (Born 1954) is a Scottish Muslim poet, artist and documentary film-maker.
She was born in Lahore to Pakistani parents. She was brought up in Glasgow where her family moved when she was less than a year old. She was married to Simon Powell, the founder of the organization Poetry Live, who passed away in October 2009 after surviving cancer for eleven years. Dharker divides her time between London, Wales, and Mumbai. She says she describes herself as a "Scottish Muslim Calvinist". Her daughter Ayesha Dharker, {whose father is Anil Dharker}, is a well known actress in international films, TV and stage.
As of 2010 she has written five books of poetry Purdah (1989), Postcards from God (1997), I Speak for the Devil (2001), The Terrorist at my Table (2006) and Leaving Fingerprints (2009) (all self-illustrated).
She is a prescribed poet on the British AQA GCSE English syllabus. Her poems 'Blessing' and 'This Room' are included in AQA Anthology, Different Cultures, Cluster 1 and 2 respectively.
The main themes of her poetry include home, freedom, journeys, geographical and cultural displacement, communal conflict and gender politics. All her books are published by the poetry publishing house Bloodaxe. Purdah And Other Poems deal with the various aspects of a Muslim woman's life where she experiences injustice, oppression and violence engineered through the culture of purdah.
She was part of the judging panel for the 2008 Manchester Poetry Prize, with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke. For many she is seen as one of Britain's most inspirational contemporary poets.
Dharker is also a documentary film-maker and has scripted and directed over a hundred films and audio-visuals, centring on education, reproductive health and shelter for women and children. In 1980 she was awarded a Silver Lotus for a short film. An accomplished artist, she has had nine solo exhibitions of pen-and-ink drawings.
She was born in Lahore to Pakistani parents. She was brought up in Glasgow where her family moved when she was less than a year old. She was married to Simon Powell, the founder of the organization Poetry Live, who passed away in October 2009 after surviving cancer for eleven years. Dharker divides her time between London, Wales, and Mumbai. She says she describes herself as a "Scottish Muslim Calvinist". Her daughter Ayesha Dharker, {whose father is Anil Dharker}, is a well known actress in international films, TV and stage.
As of 2010 she has written five books of poetry Purdah (1989), Postcards from God (1997), I Speak for the Devil (2001), The Terrorist at my Table (2006) and Leaving Fingerprints (2009) (all self-illustrated).
She is a prescribed poet on the British AQA GCSE English syllabus. Her poems 'Blessing' and 'This Room' are included in AQA Anthology, Different Cultures, Cluster 1 and 2 respectively.
The main themes of her poetry include home, freedom, journeys, geographical and cultural displacement, communal conflict and gender politics. All her books are published by the poetry publishing house Bloodaxe. Purdah And Other Poems deal with the various aspects of a Muslim woman's life where she experiences injustice, oppression and violence engineered through the culture of purdah.
She was part of the judging panel for the 2008 Manchester Poetry Prize, with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke. For many she is seen as one of Britain's most inspirational contemporary poets.
Dharker is also a documentary film-maker and has scripted and directed over a hundred films and audio-visuals, centring on education, reproductive health and shelter for women and children. In 1980 she was awarded a Silver Lotus for a short film. An accomplished artist, she has had nine solo exhibitions of pen-and-ink drawings.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 21, 2013
Thoughtful,inventive poetry that explores life and identity, extending itself across the multi-cultural globe. Impressions and possibilities build, layer upon layer, through three poetic sequences which are peppered with illustrations which add to the richness of the book. Sensual, thought-provoking and entertaining
June 17, 2018
3 stars or 4: how can you rate poetry?
February 16, 2021
A very hard book to judge given it is an anthology of very different poems. For me it's very much a mixed bag with some very enjoyable poetry and some which did nothing for me. I particularly enjoyed the poems around fruit, a rich description of a pomegranate and a charming depiction of Seville Oranges. Also the final section World Rickshaw Ride was an excellent finale, fast paced and possibly the best part of the book. You felt like you were on the journey with the writer.
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February 12, 2022i want to rate this, but how can you rate poetry? poetry can be so simple yet so beautiful, it can be so complicated yet so meaningful. So what really makes a good poem? what is a five star poem? what is a one star poem. I am not going to give it stars, however i will say that this was an incredible read. I don’t read much poetry but this book inspired me to start reading more of it.
December 8, 2023
An excellent, lyrical, collection, full of bemusement and empathy.
April 21, 2018
I will know I left my breath behind.
They will say I sighed.
They will say I sighed.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews