Synopsis "The Light That Burns Us"
The English debut of one of Greece's most radical and original poetic voices." ... an explosive cadence ... Khaleed's sentiment toward the would-be aesthetes seems clear: 'Fuck off, flower poets.'"--David Wallace, The New Yorker"[Jazra Khaleed] stands up to fascism by writing and performing Greek-language poetry that is unmatched in technical bravura, emotional depth, and political urgency. He performs his poetry at a lightning clip-- so fast the Nazis can barely keep up, let alone talk back-- a hip-hop emcee in a fever."--Max Ritvo, LA Review of Books" ... agitated and delirious and necessary."--Lotte L.S, Mute"As a whole, these translations point to the collective love that gave them shape-- a love for Khaleed's own Greek and for the Greek language more broadly ... Thoughtful and linguistically careful, Khaleed's English debut plants the right beat in our chests."-- Panagiota Stoltidou, Hopscotch Translation" ... these poems deserve their place in Poetry and American Poetry Review and in the curriculum of graduate schools, yet the project here aims beyond literary acceptance or enhanced status in the academy toward the gritty, unresolvable truth of the refugee experience. The voice here longs for all that the displaced long for--food, home, dignity, hope, justice."-- John Whalen, Colorado ReviewPoetry.
