A Time between Ashes and Roses

Wisconsin Bookwatch, June, 2005

A Time Between Ashes And Roses

Adonis

Syracuse University Press

1600 Jamesville Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210

www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu

0815608284 $19.95 1-800-365-8929

A Time Between Ashes And Roses brings to the attention of a Western readership the poetry and prose of Adonis (Ali Ahmad Said), a controversial writer in the Arab world who provocative thoughts are grounded in traditional poetic styles. Very ably translated into English by Shawkat M. Toorawa (who also provides an informative Afterword), A Time Between Ashes And Roses is a bilingual edition and a welcome contribution to Arabic Culture Studies. A freedom fighter traces his name in fire, and in the frozen throats/He dies/Jerusalem traces her name:/The State still exists/The State still exists.//Even so, the butchered river flows:/All water is the face of Jaffa/Every wound the face of Jaffa.