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Writing from Jordan

A photograph of street art in Amman, Jordan, celebrating the novelist Mu’nis Razzaz.

Street art in Amman, Jordan, celebrating the novelist Mu’nis Razzaz, 2022. Photo courtesy Addie Leak.

This collection presents poetry, fiction, and essays from Jordan.

A collection of books for sale in Amman, Jordan, propped up on a crate and in various wooden bookshelves....

Photo by Ayman N. Yusuf from Pexels. Public domain.

Heart of the Storm: A Sample of Jordanian Writing in English

In this introduction to our collection of Jordanian writing, guest editor Addie Leak details the country’s diverse culture and vital literature.

A scorpion is on a rocky surface. The colours are inverted as the photo was taken under a UV light.

Photo by Shaan Hurley from Openverse. Public domain.

Vertigo

By Hisham Bustani

The familiar tale of a recent college graduate trying to make his way in the world devolves into something more chilling in Hisham Bustani’s short story.

Translated from Arabic by Addie Leak

Multilingual

A photo of a power kite flying high in the sky as the sun sets. In the right corner there is a...

Photo by Photo by Kürşad Karaağaç from Pexels. Public domain.

You Exist to Dream

By Zuhair Abu Shayeb

Jordanian poet Zuhair Abu Shayeb questions the limitations of history, water, and the past in this fervent poem.

Translated from Arabic by Miled Faiza & Karen McNeil

Multilingual

A white mug spilling milk onto an ochre mug, which is tilted towards a black mug.

Photo by Claudia Carbungco from Unsplash. Public domain.

Nameless

An expectant mother finds herself nurtured, then threatened by a circle of women in this short story by Jordan’s Rema Hmoud.

Translated from Arabic by Ibrahim Fawzy

Multilingual

A photo of a street in Amman, with cars parked on each side of the road. In the foreground there...

Photo by Danil Ahmetşah from Unsplash. Public domain.

A Street or Less

By Maha Alautoom

Maha Alautoom pens an enchanting poem that takes us through Amman’s streets.

Translated from Arabic by Salma Harland

Multilingual

Leather letter case with embroidered floral design, which is the same on both sides. Edged with...

Bequest of Marian Hague, Smithsonian Institute.. Public domain.

On the Outskirts of Utopia

By Lana al-Majali

Jordanian poet and writer Lana al-Majali delivers a sweeping essay on the brilliance, and urgency, of poetry.

Translated from Arabic by Addie Leak

Multilingual