Poems That Do Not Sleep

by Hassan Al Nawwab

Hassan Al Nawwab is a former Iraqi soldier who came to Australia after the war with his family 20 years ago. With devastating simplicity, these imagistic poems speak of war and terror, of homesickness in exile, the blessings of peace and the pain of belonging. The collection is in two parts, ‘Tree Flying' and ‘Diaspora', and each poem is presented with its counterpart in Arabic on the opposite page, as translated from English by the poet himself.

Genres: Poetry

118 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

Reviews

[Mohammed Morsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hassan Al Nawwab is a former Iraqi soldier who came to Australia after the war with his family 20 years ago. Poems that do not sleep is a beautifully written collection of poems on war and exile, and Hassan has brought the tears, sorrow, terror, and homesickness of the refugee to the pages. They cannot and should not be missed. The bilingual collection is in two parts, Tree Flying and Diaspora. Each poem is presented in Arabic and English and the translation is excellent in both directions. It does not matter in which language one reads this collection, the poetry comes to life in an accessible and magical way. The writing rises with integrity and brutal honesty, and leaves you questioning whether you wish to embrace the sadness of the words or the gratitude for the wisdom they leave in your soul. The journey of the exiled is of sighs, gasps and poems. ‘What do you say?’ asks Hassan Al Nawwab.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw Hassan perform in person and was moved to tears. My favourite poetry collection.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no benefit
From praying to God
When your heart
Is drenched with darkness (p.32)

So many incredibly moving short poems. I still don’t think I can fathom the pain former Iraqi soldiers have experienced.

[Underground Writers]

This review first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...

Poems that do not sleep by Hassan Al Nawwab is an evocative collection of writing that reveals the horrors of a war-ravaged homeland and a war-ravaged mind. This collection also includes beautifully reverent pieces on coming to Australia and the distance felt between one’s homeland and this new land now called home. Nawwab’s collections reveals his feelings of separation from his homeland and coming to terms with being away for so long.

The collection of poems is written in both English and Arabic; the versions are gracefully presented with the poems in English on the left-hand pages and Arabic on the opposite right-hand pages. While I cannot read Arabic, inclusion of the language show homage to Nawwab’s homeland. Trying to find where the English letters met the Arabic was intriguing and I spent a time on each open page working through where the English words might appear on the Arabic side.

The collection is separated in to two parts. The first, “Tree flying” depicts much of Nawwab’s experiences as a soldier in his home country. The soldier’s sorrows laid bare to readers, with emotive pieces like Memories on page 50 that tells of a soldier returning from war. “Diaspora” is the collection’s second part and reveals the destruction left behind after experiencing war and what it means to be living in a new and foreign country. Sneer on page 94 sits deep in your heart as you read it, following a refugee’s experience. An experience so wholly unique not even reading it another two or three times could I begin to imagine the emotions felt.

The collection of poems speaks to the reader and leaves a mark once the book has been shut. I was enthralled and teary eyes when reading experiences that I could not even begin to imagine appeared. Poems that do not sleep is a unique reading experience that provides insight to a life so many are far removed from and reveals the healing nature of writing. Purchasing yourself a copy of Nawwab’s work would be an incredible opportunity in understanding and expanding your mind to view the experiences of others around you.

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended the "Poetry After Dark with Emily Sun and Hassan Al Nawwab" event at the Bull Creek Library. This was in August 2021, run by the Fremantle Press.

Hassan read a few poems and answered questions. After, I bought his book, which he signed. It was a moving experience, and I'm thankful I could be there.

The poems tell the impact of war and the pain that comes with it. It's raw, and I think it's essential reading.

[Paul Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is astonishing. Open any page and it is like being punched in the heart. It's the most powerful poetry I've read in a long life of continuous reading. This man is a genius. A tragic, broken, exquisitely beautiful genius.

[Karine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like bombs, Hassan Al Nawwab's poems are short and sharp but their impact is inconmensurate.

[stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful and intimate