When Lebanese author and poet Rewa Zeinati moved to the Emirates a few years back, her search for outlets to express thoughts about Arab society, and to read those of others, hit a dead end. The 35-year-old Dubai-based copywriter found that most journals related to the Arab region were published in the West and did not represent the multicultural make-up of the Arab world as it is today. Zeinati set out to change that last year with Sukoon [Arabic for stillness], a biannual online literary magazine for artists, writers and poets in the region. She tells us who can contribute and what to find in the latest issue, which is out now.
What content can we find in Sukoon?
Sukoon publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, personal essays, photography, calligraphy, illustrations and various types of artwork.
What topics are covered by contributors to the magazine?
Everything. As long as somehow, somewhere, be it through the artist/writer or through the piece itself, it is Arab-related. And when I say Arab, I mean the countries that speak the Arabic language in all its 30-something dialects. Topics range from a Western expatriate’s perception of an Emirati family lunch at a cafe that takes the form of a poem, for example, to forgetfulness, love, cab rides, museums, dust, religion, political news, war, cities, seaports, revolutions, in-laws, airports, language, taboos, stereotypes, Christmas, Egyptian mummies.
What is the latest issue about?
The latest issue was interesting to work on. For one thing, I found a large percentage of submissions from women, and for another, which I mention in my editor’s note, there was a sort of strange and magical collective consciousness going on for this particular issue. Unconnected poets wrote about distinctly similar topics, be it language or alphabet, prayer or religious fanaticism. I’m not sure if this is because the magazine is Arab-themed and these are typical topics! I don’t think so though.
What is the aim of such a platform for writers?
It’s a way of providing opportunity for so many different voices of noncommercial creativity to gather and encounter each other in one space. To discover one another and get inspired by each other, without borders, time frames, fads, trends, deadlines, or expiration dates. I still go back to literary journals I’ve read years ago. Literary journals are timeless experiences.
Who else is involved in bringing out this magazine?
I don’t do design and I’m silly when it comes to technology. A good friend designed the logo, another developed the website, and another takes care of the magazine’s layout design. It is an absolute labour of love.
What has been the reception to the magazine?
I’m happy to notice a growing interest in the magazine, slowly but surely. I’ve been receiving far more submissions with each issue that follows, and a lot of support from writer friends around me here, as well as the excellent poets, writers and artists whom I’ve yet to meet in person but have had the privilege to correspond with over email.
Do you have a favourite among poems you have written? What is the story behind it?
I’m fond of the poem I wrote after reading Mahmoud Darwish’s book Memory for Forgetfulness, which is about the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The inspiration came after reading a lot of modern Arabic poetry (in Arabic), mainly that of Mahmoud Darwish, Nizar Qabbani and others, while I was living in the US. The richness of the language and the unexpected metaphors as well as that sense of permanent longing and displacement, something I was feeling at the time, was what kept me hooked.
The poem was written years ago but found a home in the 2013 spring/summer issue of the American literary magazine, Quiddity.
To read the latest issue and contribute to the magazine, visit sukoonmag.com and the Facebook page.
aahmed@thenational.ae
