Rabab Youes

“I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.”
― William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra

“حين تغيب
لا كحل، لا أحمر شفاه ، لا عطر
ربما إطار خشبي فقد ملامحه في ذاكرتي
ربما صوت كان يأنس وحشة البرد بدفىء سخي
في بخيل أيامي
ربما حديث آخر هنا أو هناك
قد يكون الأخير و قد يكون ذاك الجدال المتذبذب في الحياة
بين أن نكون أو لا نكون
وطني ..من أنت ؟؟ و من أنا ؟؟”
― محمد الكتبي

“As an Egyptian woman hangs out the wash, she is as alluring as a belly dancer in whose dance the seduction is frank and direct, a sort of invitation to sex. When a woman is hanging out the wash, her appeal is subdued and coy. The woman moves as if unaware of the excitement she arouses in any man watching her. Look. When the woman puts the clothes peg in her mouth and then takes it in her two fingers to peg the wash on the line, the use of the peg is loaded with strong, sensual overtones.”
― Alaa Al Aswany

“Do not reconcile
even if they give you gold
I wonder if I were to gouge out your eyes
and replace them with two gems
would you see?
These things are priceless.”
― Amal Dunqul أمل دنقل