In the wake of the anti-immigrant and -refugee executive order put into effect by President Trump on Friday, many have responded with an outpouring of love for their immigrant families, friends and communities.
Poet Kaveh Akbar responded to the unconstitutional order, which blocks refugees from Syria and temporarily blocks travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, by sharing poems from writers who have roots in Libya, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Syria on Twitter.
Just gonna post poems today by poets from nations banned by the immigration block:
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
“When you read a poem by a poet who is living in Syria, you are granted access to an experience that is absolutely nothing like your experience living in Duluth or Montpelier,” Akbar said in an interview with PBS News Hour. “So I think that engaging in that work is one of the most empathetic things we can do right now.”
Despite the White House’s attempts to paint immigrants and refugees as terrorists and criminals, with a simple gesture Akbar made abundantly clear just who Trump’s executive order will keep off American soil: poets; artists; living, breathing, loving human beings.
Read their words and see into their worlds below.
Mohsen Emadi, translated by Lyn Coffin. Iran. pic.twitter.com/sTJkT37VUE
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Filled with grief bordering happiness, / I didn’t care if I was safe" - Khaled Mattawa. Libya. https://t.co/sa8Fn4jTD1 pic.twitter.com/DtBuuKgtZE
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"In the caverns of its death / my country neither dies / nor recovers" - Abdullah Al-Baradoun. Yemen. https://t.co/wD0hNR3bDn
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"We are the kings of the world: / Their homes are buried in bills and accounts / Our homes are buried in autumn" -Muhammad al-Maghut. Syria. pic.twitter.com/HZgobXj5BP
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"i think i am a tough girl because i smoked / my first cigarette & don’t love my boyfriend" - Safia Elhillo. Sudan. https://t.co/Da3HaKm8gN pic.twitter.com/DsIG3J7OEs
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Then, bird songs were not ominous. / Danger did not orbit like a gang of gnats." - Ladan Osman. Somalia. https://t.co/vVyn6iL6CS pic.twitter.com/IaCyclbZ8Y
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Who are the real men? / No one knows" - Amal Al-Jubouri, translated by Rebecca Gayle Howell and Husam Qaisi. Iraq. pic.twitter.com/THAD2aePK7
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Clap with flowers in your hand for America, her wall" - Amal Al-Jubouri, translated by Rebecca Gayle Howell and Husam Qaisi. Iraq. pic.twitter.com/2hn9fkJcjJ
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"I among fields of speech, / a knight on a horse made of dirt." - Adonis, translated by Khaled Mattawa. Syria. https://t.co/SPCBPu9YLz pic.twitter.com/cicehShubV
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"He suffers pain / And the world becomes small for him." - Majid Naficy, translated by Majid Naficy and Harriet Tannenbaum. Iran. pic.twitter.com/sF65tUFiNF
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Seven girls inside a flute. The ghoul twirls and / twirls and eats one of the girls. / Six girls inside a flute." -Kamal Ben Hameda. Libya. pic.twitter.com/vCwM8kxAOc
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"A graceful doe supports me in exile / And here in her bosom she’ll lodge me." - Shalom Shabazi. Yemen. https://t.co/vzyMFp4OPV pic.twitter.com/RxNveoeJPu
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"Whoever lights up the past / sets the future ablaze" - Al-Saddiq Al-Raddi. Sudan. https://t.co/Bjhn2ofyJI pic.twitter.com/weCe2MxEbe
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"no one puts their children in a boat / unless the water is safer than the land" - Warsan Shire. Somalia. https://t.co/PIawzfSgLe
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"The creatures / are gentler there, / and the governments / have no secrets." - Dunya Mikhail. Iraq. https://t.co/DLNPgISEVc pic.twitter.com/v8dafn0Wk4
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"When a man is in love / how can he use old words?" - Nizar Qabbani. Syria. https://t.co/hRNqglSIuT pic.twitter.com/pTcco9fBrR
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"No, I haven't outgrown / my tongue. It's a coat / your mother gives you" - Khaled Mattawa. Libya. https://t.co/b7HssPBVtH pic.twitter.com/kpQvpHN7Gm
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"The poet who was alone with his corpse / in a room full of his corpse..." - Shawqi Shafiq. Yemen. https://t.co/Z57PMl79BD pic.twitter.com/kye6aBD0Lm
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"forgive me / i cannot teach you to say my name / i am from / anywhere halved by water" - Safia Elhillo. Sudan. https://t.co/eGs4jQtSWX pic.twitter.com/9DdsTCsomZ
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"'Do you know me?' the old sadness asks. // She ignores it" - Ladan Osman. Somalia. pic.twitter.com/Oo9xMdlHuD
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"We are the kings of the world: / Their homes are buried in bills and accounts / Our homes are buried in autumn" -Muhammad al-Maghut. Syria. pic.twitter.com/HZgobXj5BP
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
"We are the kings of the world: / Their homes are buried in bills and accounts / Our homes are buried in autumn" -Muhammad al-Maghut. Syria. pic.twitter.com/HZgobXj5BP
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
Okay, I think that's at least three from each country (plus more if you click thru the links). Thanks for reading along with me, friends.
— Kaveh Akbar (@KavehAkbar) January 30, 2017
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Related
Before You Go
