Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/weekly-poem-brokenmusic Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Weekly Poem: ‘Brokenmusic’ Arts Mar 16, 2009 1:13 PM EDT By Nathalie Handal Maybe when you are ready for music every instrument around is broken Maybe when you are ready for freedom your heart can no longer beat Maybe when you grow madness you find what you were meant to see Maybe if you show me how desire begs play a tune in E minor the slow river of wings will reveal itself. But it had to come to this instead: a broken violin the heart, unsolved an argument with Jesus or Mohammed —exile has its ways. Now your breath is a flat tune limping its way around the wake of your mouth. Nathalie Handal is the author of two books of poetry, “The NeverField” and “The Lives of Rain,” and is also the editor of “The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology” and co-editor of “Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia & Beyond.” She has also been involved either as a writer, director or producer in over twenty theatrical and film productions worldwide. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now
By Nathalie Handal Maybe when you are ready for music every instrument around is broken Maybe when you are ready for freedom your heart can no longer beat Maybe when you grow madness you find what you were meant to see Maybe if you show me how desire begs play a tune in E minor the slow river of wings will reveal itself. But it had to come to this instead: a broken violin the heart, unsolved an argument with Jesus or Mohammed —exile has its ways. Now your breath is a flat tune limping its way around the wake of your mouth. Nathalie Handal is the author of two books of poetry, “The NeverField” and “The Lives of Rain,” and is also the editor of “The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology” and co-editor of “Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia & Beyond.” She has also been involved either as a writer, director or producer in over twenty theatrical and film productions worldwide. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now