The poetic collection “My Hands Are My Sails,” recently released by the Arab Institute for Studies and Publication, showcases the diverse themes and narratives presented by esteemed author Mouayed Al-Shaibani.
The poems reflect the journey of searching for a shore where the soul can find respite from its turmoil. The poet embarked on this solitary voyage nearly half a century ago, leaving his homeland, Iraq, and navigating through challenging adversities in a struggle for existence. His hands served as his only means of sailing, becoming akin to the sails of a boat laden with memories and the passage of time, as well as familial transformations.
A discerning reader will notice the poet’s unique writing style, which emphasizes the essence of personal experience, devoid of external impositions or general symbols and themes. This approach renders the poetry deeply poignant, vividly conveying the connection between the poet and language at an intimate level. A sense of longing and nostalgia for the homeland reverberates throughout the works, particularly considering the poet left Iraq in 1979. This yearning is particularly evident in the poems “I Love You in Mutanabbi Street” and “The Map from Above,” which exemplify optimism despite underlying pain. Excerpts from the collection include:
I wander like the wind
My hands are my sails
No shore knows me, nor do my footsteps..
The waiter said to me, O stranger,
Take what remains and burn there..
If I had “there”..
I would have run barefoot, burning in the last breath
Even on the mat..
Had I had there, I would not have knocked on the door
Nor awaited the time of departure