PRATIK CITY SPECIAL ISSUE HIGHLIGHT: French-American Poet Nathalie Handal's poem, "Viale di Trastevere, 230"

 

      NATHALIE HANDAL

 

Viale di Trastevere, 230

 

I knew that first evening

I wanted more—

 

The way he tore the green muslin

from my body and bit my upper arm.

 

The way his lost breaths

sunk in my breast.

 

I wanted to keep the room,

gather the sheets like a small hill

to stand on together—

 

sometimes the simplest action

keeps sorrow from swelling.

 

For years we bought wine from Bernabei,

plants from Fleur Garden

 

and walked San Cosimato

as if the truth was merely a guest.

 

Who can say how many

lost passions are too many?

 

He never liked

any photos of himself.

 

Now when I zoom into his face,

such poor resolution,

 

he almost looks good.

 

 

Nathalie Handal is described as a “contemporary Orpheus.” She has lived in four continents, is the author of 10 award winning books, translated in over 15 languages, including Life in a Country Album and The Republics, lauded as “one of the most inventive books by one of today’s most diverse writers,” and winner of the Arab American Book Award. Handal is the recipient of awards from the PEN Foundation, Lannan Foundation, Fondazione di Venezia, Centro Andaluz de las Letras, Africa Institute, and featured at the United Nations for Outstanding Contributors in literature She writes the column “The City and the Writer” for Words without Borders. 

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