Status Updates From Modern Sudanese Poetry: An ...

“And yeah - the tall stalks of grass
They die when elephants choose them as battleground”

“The pleasant morning sun landed on my window.
Imprinted a kiss full of flowers and rubies,
then away she flew.”

“And when our eyes met,
I came to embrace the soft rain of joy I’d long missed.
I wish we’d crossed paths earlier.
I wish we’d met a little earlier.”

“What a pleasant dream they disfigure,
in the eyes of each mother.”

Yeah no Encounter is my absolute favorite. There’s just something so simple, yet tragic and beautiful about it

“The Exile and the Kingdom” was really good, too

I also really like “Homeland”

“this city eats its offspring,
then hides in the darkness.”

I like “In the Spring of Love” too
“So have mercy on the oud,
when it sings me into a sad melody.
Your smiles are the only food and wine I have left.
One beaming smile of yours
can drive darkness away from my world
and bring water and blossom back to my desert.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

“Wedding Parade” is officially my fav so far

1st it was a little boring but as you read further the poems become more relatable not only as a Sudanese but anyone who has been oppressed by a higher power. The poems written by both old and modern poets are still very relevant today (2024). It’s sad to see Sudans history repeat itself time and time again just because greedy men want to exploit us, and this anthology put that into perspective even more for me.