Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Ronny Someck

ARABIC WORK

From which thread will the demonstration banner
of Dir Hana’s textile workers be woven.

A drop of sweat rows in the canals along a scratch on the palms
like a slave galley moving toward the Bay of Scars on fingernails.
I recall my mother’s first years in this country.
A new immigrant sits in the sewing machine room of the Rekem factory.
Her brow is furrowed like a skein of wool,
the thimble a war helmet and the needle a sword piercing the belly of the fabric
out of which were sewn holiday clothing,
workers’ overalls
and the handkerchief of the tear.

ARABIC WORK

Close

ARABIC WORK

From which thread will the demonstration banner
of Dir Hana’s textile workers be woven.

A drop of sweat rows in the canals along a scratch on the palms
like a slave galley moving toward the Bay of Scars on fingernails.
I recall my mother’s first years in this country.
A new immigrant sits in the sewing machine room of the Rekem factory.
Her brow is furrowed like a skein of wool,
the thimble a war helmet and the needle a sword piercing the belly of the fabric
out of which were sewn holiday clothing,
workers’ overalls
and the handkerchief of the tear.

ARABIC WORK

From which thread will the demonstration banner
of Dir Hana’s textile workers be woven.

A drop of sweat rows in the canals along a scratch on the palms
like a slave galley moving toward the Bay of Scars on fingernails.
I recall my mother’s first years in this country.
A new immigrant sits in the sewing machine room of the Rekem factory.
Her brow is furrowed like a skein of wool,
the thimble a war helmet and the needle a sword piercing the belly of the fabric
out of which were sewn holiday clothing,
workers’ overalls
and the handkerchief of the tear.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère