These poems took my breath away.

They span the course of the author’s life and experiences living under Israeli occupation and violence. These poems chronicle his life under constant threat of violence, murder, and displacement. The poems tell a heartbreaking story of displacement, violence, death, and resilience. The author paints such an intimate picture that you feel like you’re there with him - you feel his fear, his grief, his love, his anger, his devastation, his hope. 

Some of the poems were painful, and difficult to read, while others fill you with love and hope. All of the poems, however, were beautiful. I found myself moved to tears several times, at the weight of each word. Mosab takes care with his prose - it’s full of metaphor, and grief, and beauty and ferocity, and boldness, and humour. These poems will make you <i>feel things</i>. 

Some standouts for me were: “Palestine A—Z”; “my grandfather and home”; “Deserted Boat, Dreaming”; “My City After What Happened Some Time Ago”; and, of course, “A Rose Shoulders Up”.