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A Monkey at the Window: Selected Poems
I let alphabets cling to me
as I climb the thread of language
between myself and the world.
Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi is one of the leading African poets writing in Arabic today. Famous in his native Sudan, the vivid imagery of his searing, lyric poems create the world afresh in their yearning for transcendence.
In 2005 Saddiq’s poems were first translated into English by the Poetry Translation Centre for their first World Poets’ Tour. Since then he has received a rapturous reception from UK audiences.
In 2010 a party was organised for him at London's Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology which holds a significant collection of ancient Sudanese artefacts. As a result of the success of this event (and earlier visits to the Petrie in 2005 and 2006), he was able to work in the Petrie Museum as their poet in residence during the summer of 2012. This led to a new book of poems, He Tells Tales of Meroe: Poems for the Petrie Museum (Poetry Translation Centre/Petrie Museum, 2015), which was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award.
Born in Omdurman Khartoum in 1969, Saddiq has published four volumes of poetry, including his Collected Poems in 2010. From 2006 he was the cultural editor of Al-Sudani newspaper until he was forced into exile in 2012. He was granted asylum in the UK and now lives in London.
'Connoisseurs of classical love poetry should seek out A Monkey at the Window, Sarah Maguire and Mark Ford’s selection from Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, a Sudanese poet living in exile in London.' - Jeremy Noel-Tod, The Sunday Times (Poetry Books of the Year)
Arabic-English dual language edition
Co-published with the Poetry Translation Centre
as I climb the thread of language
between myself and the world.
Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi is one of the leading African poets writing in Arabic today. Famous in his native Sudan, the vivid imagery of his searing, lyric poems create the world afresh in their yearning for transcendence.
In 2005 Saddiq’s poems were first translated into English by the Poetry Translation Centre for their first World Poets’ Tour. Since then he has received a rapturous reception from UK audiences.
In 2010 a party was organised for him at London's Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology which holds a significant collection of ancient Sudanese artefacts. As a result of the success of this event (and earlier visits to the Petrie in 2005 and 2006), he was able to work in the Petrie Museum as their poet in residence during the summer of 2012. This led to a new book of poems, He Tells Tales of Meroe: Poems for the Petrie Museum (Poetry Translation Centre/Petrie Museum, 2015), which was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award.
Born in Omdurman Khartoum in 1969, Saddiq has published four volumes of poetry, including his Collected Poems in 2010. From 2006 he was the cultural editor of Al-Sudani newspaper until he was forced into exile in 2012. He was granted asylum in the UK and now lives in London.
'Connoisseurs of classical love poetry should seek out A Monkey at the Window, Sarah Maguire and Mark Ford’s selection from Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, a Sudanese poet living in exile in London.' - Jeremy Noel-Tod, The Sunday Times (Poetry Books of the Year)
Arabic-English dual language edition
Co-published with the Poetry Translation Centre
- GenresPoetry
120 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 1, 2022
A Monkey At The Window by Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi, tr. Atef Alshaer, Rashid El Sheikh, Sabry Hafez, Hafez Kheir, Sarah Maguire, and Mark Ford
•
A Monkey At The Window is a bilingual poetry collection from prominent Sudanese poet Al-Raddi.
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Saddiq writes lyrical poetry where each word paints a vivid image inside your mind.The words succeed one another like brush strokes on a canvas filled with the most evocative words.The poems touch on many topics, some were about love and others were political or historical.
•
Reading poetry is as always very subjective and despite loving every poem as they were, I was grateful for the introduction that added another layer of understanding to my reading. I just wish the Arabic font was bigger because it was so tedious to read, I ended up only reading the translation at some point.
•
•
A Monkey At The Window is a bilingual poetry collection from prominent Sudanese poet Al-Raddi.
•
Saddiq writes lyrical poetry where each word paints a vivid image inside your mind.The words succeed one another like brush strokes on a canvas filled with the most evocative words.The poems touch on many topics, some were about love and others were political or historical.
•
Reading poetry is as always very subjective and despite loving every poem as they were, I was grateful for the introduction that added another layer of understanding to my reading. I just wish the Arabic font was bigger because it was so tedious to read, I ended up only reading the translation at some point.
•
January 31, 2025
A Monkey at the Window" is a collection that'll make your brain do somersaults. Al-Raddi's style is like a cocktail of Sufism, classical Arabic poetry, and modern vibes all shaken up together. He's not afraid to get experimental, blending prose and poetry in ways that'll keep you on your toes.
One of the coolest things about Al-Raddi's poetry is how he weaves together the personal and the political. He's talking about big, heavy themes like exile, identity, and the struggles of his homeland, but he does it through everyday stuff like drinking coffee or waiting for a night bus. It's like he's saying, "Hey, even in the middle of all this chaos, life goes on."
The imagery in his poems is off the charts. What's really mind-blowing about this collection is how Al-Raddi manages to bridge cultures. He's writing about his experiences as a Sudanese poet in exile, but somehow, he makes it relatable to anyone who's ever felt out of place or struggled with their identity.
The translations in this book are a work of art in themselves. It's like a team of literary superheroes came together to bring Al-Raddi's words to English readers. They've managed to keep the essence of his style while making it accessible to a whole new audience.
In the end, "A Monkey at the Window" is more than just a poetry collection. It's a window (pun intended) into a world most of us never get to see. It's powerful, it's moving, and it's definitely worth a read if you're up for some poetry that'll make you think, feel, and maybe see the world a little differently.
One of the coolest things about Al-Raddi's poetry is how he weaves together the personal and the political. He's talking about big, heavy themes like exile, identity, and the struggles of his homeland, but he does it through everyday stuff like drinking coffee or waiting for a night bus. It's like he's saying, "Hey, even in the middle of all this chaos, life goes on."
The imagery in his poems is off the charts. What's really mind-blowing about this collection is how Al-Raddi manages to bridge cultures. He's writing about his experiences as a Sudanese poet in exile, but somehow, he makes it relatable to anyone who's ever felt out of place or struggled with their identity.
The translations in this book are a work of art in themselves. It's like a team of literary superheroes came together to bring Al-Raddi's words to English readers. They've managed to keep the essence of his style while making it accessible to a whole new audience.
In the end, "A Monkey at the Window" is more than just a poetry collection. It's a window (pun intended) into a world most of us never get to see. It's powerful, it's moving, and it's definitely worth a read if you're up for some poetry that'll make you think, feel, and maybe see the world a little differently.
January 21, 2020
so soulful but full of nuance, colour and care. beautiful stuff.
July 6, 2023
Prayer
Between ink and a tear
The Word is prostrated – with its head held high
It evokes its own divinity
It illuminates the page
Between ink and a tear
The Word is prostrated – with its head held high
It evokes its own divinity
It illuminates the page
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews