Adonis: Selected Poems (The Margellos World Republic of Letters)

Born in Syria in 1930, Adonis is one of the most celebrated poets of the Arabic-speaking world. His poems have earned international acclaim, and his influence on Arabic literature has been likened to that of T. S. Eliot’s on English-language verse. This volume serves as the first comprehensive survey of Adonis’s work, allowing English readers to admire the arc of a remarkable literary career through the labors of the poet’s own handpicked translator, Khaled Mattawa. Experimental in form and prophetic in tone, Adonis’s poetry sings exultantly of both the sweet promise of eros and the lingering problems of the self. Steeped in the anguish of exile and the uncertainty of existence, __Adonis__ demonstrates the poet’s profound affection for Arabic and European lyrical traditions even as his poems work to destabilize those very aesthetic and moral sensibilities. This collection positions the work of Adonis within the pantheon of the great poets of exile, including César Vallejo, Joseph Brodsky, and Paul Celan, providing for English readers the most complete vision yet of the work of the man whom the cultural critic Edward Said called “today’s most daring and provocative Arab poet.” Born In Syria In 1930, Adonis Is One Of The Most Celebrated Poets Of The Arabic-speaking World. His Poems Have Earned International Acclaim, And His Influence On Arabic Literature Has Been Likened To That Of T.s. Eliot's On English-language Verse. This Volume Serves As The First Comprehensive Survey Of Adonis' Work, Allowing English Readers To Admire The Arc Of A Remarkable Literary Career Through The Labours Of The Poet's Own Handpicked Translator, Khaled Mattawa. Experimental In Form And Prophetic In Tone, Adonis' Poetry Sings Exultantly Of Both The Sweet Promise Of Eros And The Lingering Problems Of The Self. Steeped In The Anguish Of Exile And The Uncertainty Of Existence, Adonis Demonstrates The Poet's Profound Affection For Arabic And European Lyrical Traditions Even As His Poems Work To Destabilize Those Very Aesthetic And Moral Sensibilities. First Poems (1957) -- Songs Of Mihyar Of Damascus (1961) -- Migrations And Transformations In The Regions Of Night And Day (1965) -- Stage And Mirrors (1968) -- A Time Between Ashes And Roses (1971) -- Singular In A Plural Form (1975) -- The Book Of Similarities And Beginnings (1980) -- The Book Of Siege (1985) -- Desire Moving Through Maps Of Matter (1987) -- Celebrating Vague-clear Things (1988) -- Another Alphabet (1994) -- Prophesy, O Blind One (2003) -- Beginnings Of The Body, Ends Of The Sea (2003) -- Printers Of The Planets' Books (2008). Translated From The Arabic By Khaled Mattawa. Frontispiece: Poem And Calligraphy By Adonis, Xxxx. Translated By Bassam Frangieh--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References. Translated From The Arabic. The first major career-spanning collection of the poems of Adonis, widely acknowledged as the most important poet working in Arabic today Born in Syria in 1930, Adonis is one of the most celebrated poets of the Arabic-speaking world. His poems have earned international acclaim, and his influence on Arabic literature has been likened to that of T. S. Eliots on English-language verse. This volume serves as the first comprehensive survey of Adoniss work, allowing English readers to admire the arc of a remarkable literary career through the labors of the poets own handpicked translator, Khaled Mattawa. Experimental in form and prophetic in tone, Adoniss poetry sings exultantly of both the sweet promise of eros and the lingering problems of the self. Steeped in the anguish of exile and the uncertainty of existence, Adonis demonstrates the poets profound affection for Arabic and European lyrical traditions even as his poems work to destabilize those very aesthetic and moral sensibilities. This collection positions the work of Adonis within the pantheon of the great poets of exile, including Csar Vallejo, Joseph Brodsky, and Paul Celan, providing for English readers the most complete vision yet of the work of the man whom the cultural critic Edward Said called todays most daring and provocative Arab poet.

Born in Syria in 1930, Adonis is one of the most celebrated poets of the Arabic-speaking world. His poems have earned international acclaim, and his influence on Arabic literature has been likened to that of T. S. Eliot's on English-language verse. This volume serves as the first comprehensive survey of Adonis's work, allowing English readers to admire the arc of a remarkable literary career through the labors of the poet’s own handpicked translator, Khaled Mattawa.

Experimental in form and prophetic in tone, Adonis's poetry sings exultantly of both the sweet promise of eros and the lingering problems of the self. Steeped in the anguish of exile and the uncertainty of existence, Adonis demonstrates the poet’s profound affection for Arabic and European lyrical traditions even as his poems work to destabilize those very aesthetic and moral sensibilities. This collection positions the work of Adonis within the pantheon of the great poets of exile, including César Vallejo, Joseph Brodsky, and Paul Celan, providing for English readers the most complete vision yet of the work of the man whom the cultural critic Edward Said called "today's most daring and provocative Arab poet."

Contents 5 Introduction 9 A Note on the Translation 23 Acknowledgments 27 First Poems 29 Songs of Mihyar of Damascus 49 Migrations and Transformations in the Regions of Night and Day (1965) 85 Stage and Mirrors (1968) 107 A Time Between Ashes and Roses (1971) 133 Singular in a Plural Form (1975) 151 The Book of Similarities and Beginnings (1980) 201 The Book of Siege (1985) 223 Desire Moving Through Maps of Matter (1987) 255 Celebrating Vague-Clear Things (1988) 285 Another Alphabet (1994) 309 Prophesy, O Blind One (2003) 323 Beginnings of the Body, Ends of the Sea (2003) 355 Printer of the Planets’ Books (2008) 399 Notes 423 About the Author 429 Born in Syria in 1930, Adonis is one of the most celebrated poets of the Arabic-speaking world. This volume serves as a comprehensive survey of Adonis' work. It positions the work of Adonis within the pantheon of the great poets of exile, including Cesar Vallejo, Joseph Brodsky, and Paul Celan.