’Desperation and hope inspire me the most’: Faraj Bayrakdar on his new collection of poetry
’A Buttonhole in the Question Shirt’ is the Syrian award-winning poet and journalist’s ninth poetry book. The collection was published in Sweden where Faraj Bayrakdar is the former resident of Stockholm ICORN City of Refuge.
Bayrakdar’s newly released poems reflect his experiences over twenty years, reflecting on his life in Syria, imprisonment, exile, and the present situation in his home country.
Regarding his new poetic work, Faraj Bayrakdar says:
‘To me writing is a way of life. All my thoughts, feelings, imagination, and customs come from inside the womb of poetry, realised during its formulation. To me poetry examines all aspects of life, and it can, therefore, qualify or reject any idea, position, or convention. Desperation and hope inspire me the most.'
When asked to reflect on his feelings about his home country, the poet added:
‘I don’t have any nostalgic feelings towards Syria because I am not a masochist who yearns for incarceration, torture, poverty, fear, and massacres. But I do realise the gravity of suffering in Syria and the pain Syrians are enduring, so I write about it as a human being first, and Syrian second. The tragedy which has befallen Syria now is because it is the only country where American and Russian military bases coalesce and work together in harmony. I live beneficently in Sweden, as any person should live. This fills my heart with love and gives me comfort and satisfaction. I witness the raging wars around the world brining carnage and ruin, and I feel that a curse has long haunted humanity, attested by technological advancement and moral decadence, if not complete savagery.’
To read more about the book, click here.
To read Faraj Bayrakdar’s resident profile, click here.
