Flashes of the Present Pain
(POETRY QUARTETS IN ENGLISH & ARABIC)
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Monologue:Where Are You?
We are not supposed to conquer invaders head by head.
We followed peaceful religion despite the waves of bloodshed.
How many martyrs embraced death by crucifixion?
The swords harvested priests and monks with no reaction.
Where are you?
*****
Suffering:To Whom Do I Complain?
Oh’ West, when are you going to wake up from sleep?
The cells of hatred in the mosques are digging deep.
Today, they are in a dormant role implanting bloody seeds.
By that time, there’s no benefit of remorse for ignoring the heeds.
To whom do I complain?
*****
Calling:Whom Do I Call?
A new invasion prevailed called ISIS.
They justified the killing according to the verses.
Young girls followed them from Marrakesh to Damascus.
Seeking paradise from the act of trespasses.
Whom do I call?
*****
Questionings:Who Is To Blame?
My homeland, they call me Dhimmi and so does my family.
Threatening with the sword is their homily.
The source of legislation is a clergy with turbans.
All the articles of the constitution are based on the Quran.
Who is to blame?
*****
My Beloved Homeland
My homeland, do not blame the one who intends to travel,
Nor who pulled the backpack to settle.
The freedom of human is an indispensible target;
It can not be bought or sold in the market.
*****
Request:Leave Me Be
You are free to worship God or idols or be atheist.
Worship whatever, but let the creatures be protected.
Do not kill innocent bodies in the name of God,
For all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
Leave me be.
*****
Puzzlement:Where Do I Go?
Who does good will cast abundant good.
Who sows evil shall harvest bitter food.
The train of life is heading towards the same destiny.
A gnashing of teeth is the fate or joyful harmony.
Where do I go?
*****
My Heart Story:Who Is To Help?
Do not trust your heart in two faces:
When falling into the trap of love affairs,
And when the blood in the arteries is scarce.
A human will harvest agony in both cases.
Who is to help?
*****
Monologue:Where Are You?
We are not supposed to conquer invaders head by head.
We followed peaceful religion despite the waves of bloodshed.
How many martyrs embraced death by crucifixion?
The swords harvested priests and monks with no reaction.
Where are you?
*****
Suffering:To Whom Do I Complain?
Oh’ West, when are you going to wake up from sleep?
The cells of hatred in the mosques are digging deep.
Today, they are in a dormant role implanting bloody seeds.
By that time, there’s no benefit of remorse for ignoring the heeds.
To whom do I complain?
*****
Calling:Whom Do I Call?
A new invasion prevailed called ISIS.
They justified the killing according to the verses.
Young girls followed them from Marrakesh to Damascus.
Seeking paradise from the act of trespasses.
Whom do I call?
*****
Questionings:Who Is To Blame?
My homeland, they call me Dhimmi and so does my family.
Threatening with the sword is their homily.
The source of legislation is a clergy with turbans.
All the articles of the constitution are based on the Quran.
Who is to blame?
*****
My Beloved Homeland
My homeland, do not blame the one who intends to travel,
Nor who pulled the backpack to settle.
The freedom of human is an indispensible target;
It can not be bought or sold in the market.
*****
Request:Leave Me Be
You are free to worship God or idols or be atheist.
Worship whatever, but let the creatures be protected.
Do not kill innocent bodies in the name of God,
For all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
Leave me be.
*****
Puzzlement:Where Do I Go?
Who does good will cast abundant good.
Who sows evil shall harvest bitter food.
The train of life is heading towards the same destiny.
A gnashing of teeth is the fate or joyful harmony.
Where do I go?
*****
My Heart Story:Who Is To Help?
Do not trust your heart in two faces:
When falling into the trap of love affairs,
And when the blood in the arteries is scarce.
A human will harvest agony in both cases.
Who is to help?
*****
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Book Details
About the Book
Human grievances are multiple and complex, yet it is better to live oppressed than unjust. The physical and psychological wounds may continue with the continuation of those grievances, but there is still a glimmer of hope that frames the present pain gradually. The image then turns to look like a ray from the sun enveloping the oppressed with warmth and light in the hope that the page of injustice will be folded forever and be part of the painful past.
With the burden of injustice, the oppressed shall speak to Virgin Mary Mother of Jesus, crying out, “Where are you?”
From the severity of suffering, they will search for another savior to complain to.
And with the continuation of injustice, they will shout eagerly, “Who do I call?”
When the oppressed sees the disintegration and decaying of the wounded motherland, they will ask, “Who is to blame?”
Nevertheless, they will pray and call for the secular system as a way of salvation.
From the depth of desperation and the extent of despair, they will beg and say, Leave me be.
Despite the needs, the suffering, the appeals, the questioning, the wishes and dreams, they will be puzzled by the obscure fate and wonder where to go.
This modest book tells in the first seven quartets the story of the present pain that envelops the body of those suffering from the pitfalls of life and the injustice of others.
It is concluded by the last quartet that strengthens my faith in the Almighty Creator who saved me from repeated heart attacks and kept me breathing between my friends and my beloved.
About the Author
Sabah Michael Yacoub was born in Iraq from a Chaldean family. He descended from the native inhabitants who entered Christianity in the era of St.Thomas the Apostle, one of the Twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.
He graduated from Baghdad Medical School and received a higher degree from the United Kingdom. He spent years of his life practicing his specialty of internal medicine and cardiology.
He moved from Baghdad to the United Kingdom after the Allied invasion of Iraq. Then he migrated to North America, traveling between Canada and the United States.
Despite his scientific background, he has a deep inclination toward knowledge culture in general and toward poetry in particular. He started poetry writing during high school, but left his beautiful hobby only to return back to it recently.
Sabah was inspired by the tragic circumstances that have afflicted his motherland and by the injustice, displacement, and abuse of Christians, Sabians, and Yazidis minorities, as expressed in the two poetry quartets Tragedy: How Often and How Much? currently in print, and Flashes of the Present Pain, that is in your hands now.
Additionally, Sabah writes on various topics in his mother tongue on ankawa.com, alqosh.net, and some magazines and newspapers produced in the diaspora.
His main interests are watching sports, especially soccer, and participating in various cultural and educational activities. He also loves collecting used books, especially religious and historical ones.