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Remi Kanazi - Poetic Injustice

inminds
22 November 2011

Palestinian performance poet and BDS activist Remi Kanazi is currently touring England. Astonishingly he is giving 22 performances in 19 days, starting and ending in London and in between visiting more of England in those few days than many residents see in a lifetime! That energy that enables such a packed schedule is very evident in his electrifying performance of political poetry mixed with stand up. His message is refreshingly uncompromising, sharing the struggles and concerns of his people through the power of words.

We were privileged to experience two of his performances. Here we include photos from his performance at Newham-Jenin event in London (13 Nov 2011) and the video from his Brighton performance (15 Nov 2011) which was for a full hour followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers.

Remi, based in New York City, is the editor of Poets For Palestine and the author of Poetic Injustice: Writings on Resistance and Palestine. His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world and his poetry has taken him across North America and the Middle East. He recently appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International at London’s Southbank. He is a recurring writer in residence and advisory board member for the Palestine Writing Workshop.

His book of poetry "Poetic Injustice - writings on Resistance and Palestine" is highly recommended and is available for sale at poeticinjustice.net.

Some of the powerful three line poems from the book are reproduced below. Read a great account of the Brighton event here.

These are not rocks
They are the bulldozed
headstones of our forefathers

People say
Palestine made me political
I think it made me human

Free Palestine
is not a keychain
in your back pocket

From my rooftop
I can see an Israeli sunbathing
on the balcony my grandfather built

Tell a refugee in Bourj el-Barajneh
that pragmatism is the reason
she will not return

Source: www.inminds.co.uk

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