Habash has been staying in the asylum seeker center in Middelburg for more than two years, unsure about his future. In Syria he was a photographer and hobby poet. He has not seen his wife and two daughters, who reside in Istanbul, for three years. Despite that misery, his Dutch poems focus more on the beautiful things in life.
Middelburg inspires the Syrian poet. “This city gives me inspiration for beautiful poems, love poems.” That is different from when he was still writing poetry in Syria. “My Arabic poems are heavier, about war or politics for example. I am developing a new style here.”
Habash wrote the poems in Arabic, for Oersoep his mentor translated them into Dutch. “I practiced pronouncing it for two months,” says Habash. “I think it is beautiful.” This weekend he will speak four poems in Dutch, two in Arabic.
This afternoon he will be on the stage of the concert hall in Middelburg with a big smile. He carefully pronounces the Dutch words. His performance in Zierikzee yesterday already felt special, but the presentation in the concert hall surpassed that. “It’s a big afternoon for me because this city is important to me,” he says.
2023-11-19 18:05:10
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