Reviews

Why Did You Leave the Horse Alone? by Mahmoud Darwish

violet_primroses's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

royallyreading's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

toomuchlit's review against another edition

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

katharina90's review

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reflective medium-paced

3.0

I enjoyed this collection but feel like I am missing the cultural knowledge to pick up on certain references and symbolisms that lend deeper meaning to these poems.

The introduction provided interesting insights into the poet's relationship with translations of his work, as well as his relationship to some of his earlier work such as the famous "Identity Card". 

illyricvm's review against another edition

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5.0

“I know what ruins your heart, pierced
By the peacock, since you were driven a second time from Paradise.
Our whole world has changed, our voices have changed. Even
Our greeting to each other dropped off like a button on sand,
Making no sound.
Say: Good morning!
Say anything to me so that life may be kind to me.”

“Who am I? This
Is a question for others and has no answer. I am my own language,
I am a mu’allaqa… two mu’allaqas… ten,
This is my language
I am my language. I am what was said by the words:
Be My body, and so I was a body, for their rhythm.
I am what I said to the words:
Be a meeting point of my body and eternal desert
Be so that I may be as I say!”

“So let my language conquer
Time the enemy, my descendants,
Myself, my father, and an unending extinction
This is my language and my miracle. A magic wand.”


hel14's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

remembered_reads's review against another edition

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reflective

5.0

ratmanifesto's review against another edition

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was using an oddly formatted kindle book, needs to be read in print!!

tasha_is_dreaming's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

tirragen's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

Rewards close reading and rereading infinitely. My favorite Darwish collection; him at his greatest, his most grand, dignified, grave.