The Fragrance of the Earth

About this book

The Fragrance of the Earth is not just a poetry collection comprising scattered poems, but a deep journey into the depths of the Arab psyche laden with worries and hopes. Shaaban Zaghlami writes with his tears and his ink, translating his thoughts and feelings with unfeigned sincerity, in words springing from the heart without prearrangement. He breaks the pen and burns the paper after finishing his poem, having pledged to himself never to reveal his secrets to anyone but his Creator. The book takes you into the mazes of memory, between innocent dreams of a beloved and the painful reality of a little girl assassinated in cold blood. The poet speaks of sadness weaving its threads upon cheeks, melting the beauty of eyes, until sadness becomes the most beautiful thing about you. It is the tongue of everyone who lost a dear companion, to realize in the end that he lost not only a companion but gained a homeland called Palestine. These poems do not content themselves with wiping tears; they narrate the story of a nation that suffered much.