The Funambulists brings together the diverse poetry collections of six contemporary Arab diasporic women poets. Spanning multiple languages and regions, this volume illuminates the distinct artistic voice of each poet, yet also highlights the aesthetic and political relevance that unites their work. Marchi explores the work of Naomi Shihab Nye, a celebrated American poet of Palestinian descent; Iman Mersal, an Egyptian poet living in Edmonton, Canada, who writes in Arabic; Nadine Ltaif, a Lebanese poet who lives in Quebec and has adopted French as her language; Maram al-Massri, a Syrian poet writing in Arabic and living in France; Suheir Hammad, an American poet of Palestinian origin; and Mina Boulhanna, a Moroccan poet living in Italy and writing in Italian. Despite their varying geographical and political backgrounds, these poets find common ground in themes of injustice, spirituality, gender, race, and class. Drawing upon the concept of tension, Marchi examines both the breaking points and the creative energies that traverse the poetic works of these writers. These celebrated funambulists use their art of balance and flexibility bolstered by their courage and transgression to walk a tightrope stretched out across cultures, faiths, and nations.
Lisa Marchi teaches in the Department of Humanities at the University of Trento in Italy. Her research focuses on Arab diasporic literature.
Acknowledgments xi Note on Transliteration and Spelling xvii Introduction Literary and Worldly Tensions 1 Part 1. Encounters 1. The Everyday as Protean and Enchanting - Naomi Shihab Nye's Tender Spot 23 2. The Everyday as Claustrophobic and Stale - Iman Mersal's These Are Not Oranges, My Love 43 Part 2. Crossings 101 3. Maritime Crossings - Mina Boulhanna's "Immigrata" and "Africa" 71 4. Oceanic CrossingsNadine Ltaif's Ce que vous ne lirez pas 84 Part 3. Breaks 5. Breaking Love as an Ideal - Maram al-Massri's A Red Cherry on a White-Tiled Floor 111 6. Afro-Arab Beats - Suheir Hammad's breaking poems 130 Conclusion The Stunning Vistas of Funambolic Art 153 Marchi 1st pages.indd 9 4/21/2022 6:45:22 AM x Contents Notes 171 Bibliography 193
Explores contemporary Arab diasporic poetry from a transnational, gendered, and multilingual perspective.
Written in a lucid style and with a good hold on her theoretical prerogatives, Marchi is able to give us a much-needed work on Arab women's writings in the diaspora." - Mushin al-Musawi, Columbia University "Women in general are the tightrope-walkers of any society. Poets are too. Arabs in diaspora? Yes, that too." - Waed Athamneh, Connecticut College
