Description
Book SynopsisIn Poet of Jordan, William Tamplin presents two decades’ worth of the political poetry of Muhammad Fanatil al-Hajaya, a Bedouin poet from Jordan and a public figure whose voice channels a popular strain of popular Arab political thought. Tamplin’s footnoted translations are supplemented with a biography, interviews, and pictures in order to contextualize the man behind the poetry. The aesthetics and politics of vernacular Arabic poetry have long gone undervalued. By offering a close study of the life and work of Hajaya, Tamplin demonstrates the impact that one poet’s voice can have on the people and leaders of the contemporary Middle East.
Table of ContentsContents Foreword Clive Holes Acknowledgements Preliminary Note Introduction Bedouins and Jordan Bedouin Poetry The Hajaya Tribe Muhammad Fanatil al-Hajaya Part 1: The Poems Balm of the Wound Not a Baathist, Not a Commie Oh Condoleezza Rice! Camel Dung Nevermore, Oh Muammar My Pain is Great Fear the Noose Flower of the Whites and the Blacks Occupy My Heart Daughter of Tough Men Flower of the Mossad The Lost Right Stock Market of My Love Obama’s Victory Our Jordan Noblest of the Fallen The Arab Spring Message to the Lion Bashar Message to Putin of the Russians Twenty-One Countries Think of Poor Steven! Day of Succession Lehitraʾot Fight Fire with Fire Brave Men Slaughtered Yemen’s Gone Don’t Think about Maryam Crocodile Tears The West’s Crafty Men Stand Together Stalin Unite the Jews and the Arabs! I’m the Leader! Child Killer Theater of Corruption Spring of Disaster Free Arabs’ Revolt Fire-Hot Stakes Don’t Slaughter Us! They Don’t Care about Dhiban Taste the Honey! Ivanka Khalid ibn al-Walid Abu Ivanka When Will America Lead Again? Part 2: Interviews Interview #1 Interview #2 Interview #3 Interview #4 Part 3: Pictures Bibliography Index
