Life reflected in poetry: An Interview with Djehane Hassouna!

About the Author: Djehane Hassouna grew up in Egypt where she received her formal education in French. Her fascination with French poetry and fairy tales has always inspired her writing. Djehane also speaks Arabic, Italian, and a little Spanish. Djehane received her BA in French from the Catholic University of America, her MA in Comparative Literature from Vermont College, and her PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout her life, Djehane has continued to express her feelings through poetry in both French and English. As she writes, and as her emotions take shape into verse, Djehane becomes one with her poetry.

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From the Publisher: “Rainbow of Emotions is a culmination of Djehane’s life experiences. It is a map guiding the reader through the confusing labyrinth of life, unravelling the complicated pattern of her intricate journey through poetry. Djehane writes poems about nature, events, and feelings, about life as a whole. She expresses her hopes and fears, her triumphs and failures, her gratitude and resentment. Every poem is linked to her soul! Every poem is a masterpiece in its own right!”

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When did you begin writing?

My poetic journey began early in my childhood, in Egypt. a few steps away from the Egyptian pyramids and the mysterious world of the pharaohs. This gave me unique knowledge about the most fascinating ancient history, and inspired my writing as you can see that in my poem “Lineage”.

I’ve always attempted to verbally express all the beauty surrounding me: gardens full of mango and guava trees, blue skies, and starry nights. As I whirled around in the grass, immersed in sunshine and the floral perfumes emanating from tulips and hydrangeas, I often felt unable to convey all this splendor into words.

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Lineage

 
As a child, my next-door neighbors were the pharaohs of

Ancient Egypt who left their mark on

The whole Egyptian landscape!

On this spot, the monuments built by the three Kings:

Cheops, Kefren, and Mykerinos stood tall, magnificent, and

Indestructible. Built of huge blocks of stone,

The apex topped with granite,

The pyramids fascinated tourists and were

The ideal destination for camel drivers and horsemen to take

Their riders! When people reached the plateau

Of Giza overlooking the city of Cairo,

They were not only spectators, but also

Witnesses to the legacy of past centuries.

Although modern bystanders, they, somehow, participated

In the exceptional life of the ancient Egyptians.

They glimpsed at their glory, at such a mysterious way of life,

At their extraordinary mausoleums reaching the sunny sky

Of the Egyptian desert… How fortunate was I to have such

Glorious neighbors, whose distinguished civilization

Kept my young imagination relentlessly engaged!

Who knows? King Tut, the boy King, could possibly

Have been a distant relative of mine!

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 12

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Did your family encourage you to write?

My grandfather, who was my friend and my guide, cultivated my love for poetry by encouraging me to recite Victor Hugo’s poems. His favorite line was Mon père, ce héros au sourire si doux from “Après la Bataille.” I always complied, and it soon became a hobby as well as a source of inspiration. My readings of French Romantic poems were always accompanied by a flow of tears. As well as reliving every feeling, I experienced the nostalgia described in the works of the great French poets.  Recently, I wrote a special poem for him.

My daughter’s love and support and constant encouragement made this book possible. Our mutual love for each other has always been a never ending source of inspiration, as you can see in my poem “Sweet Refuge”.

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My Grandfather

 
Like a time machine, his picture brings back

The years and the days; it also brings back

The conversations and the sweet reminiscences.

The patience of my grandfather knew no bounds.

Encouraging and appreciative, he listened for hours

To my complaints, to my hopes and dreams, to a

Future we envisioned together. I trusted him and

He believed in me. Not once did he blame me as

I poured out my worries and concerns; he never

Told me that I was wrong; he taught me to love

Books and read poetry. Thanks to him, Victor Hugo

Became my teacher and mentor Thus, I turned into

An advocate of the highest moral values that could

Ever be. It’s a fact that I was at odds with the rest

Of my entourage who had a different concept of life,

But I felt at peace with myself, and grateful to my best

Friend, my grandfather, who left me with a legacy of

Knowledge and cherished memories, providing hope

As well as guidance during a bumpy and merciless life!

My grandfather was a gentleman by all accounts!

2005 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 5

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Sweet Refuge

 

Unable to wrap her small arms completely around me,

She attempts to comfort me as best as she can.

Building a nest for my heart, wiping my tears with

Her tiny hands, she says, “Mina, don’t cry! I love you

And I won’t let anything bad happen to you!”

Throughout the years, constantly encouraging me,

Her sweet smile was my only hope as she whispered

Softly, “May God help me build a palace for you!”

Thankful, I replied, “You are my palace and my crown,

My Heaven and my sunshine! You are my everything!”

Her presence causes sadness to vanish, anxiety to fade,

And problems to disappear! Like a shining star,

She fills my world with light. She has always been

My constant source of joy, my reason for happiness,

My only expectation for the Future! Away from her,

I stop being alive! When I see her, I radiate bliss!

I wish I could grant her every wish, brighten her world,

And give her as much joy as she’s given me!

“Tu es mon cadeau du ciel!” I keep repeating,

And I mean every word…

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 8

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What are the topics that inspire you most?

I like to write poems about feelings, emotions, and about life as a whole. Our human condition is best expressed in poems since they focus on the particular as well as the general. I thus expressed my hopes and my fears, my triumphs and my failures, my gratitude and my resentment. I also like to write about nature, seasons, the sea, and all kinds of animals.

I’m including, below, the poem “Merging with Nature”, and there are so many other examples in my chapter “the Melodies of Nature”.

And finally I like to write about Dreamworld. Dreamworld is a term I came up with during my master’s studies to describe the world of our imagination. A world that we envision to be perfect, full of hope and pleasure, and free of all the fear and pain that fills our realities or as I call it, our Realworld. The following poem Dreamworld describes the contrasting powers of Dreamworld and Realworld.

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Merging with Nature

 

The Desert beckons and I respond! Sifting the golden

Sand through my fingers, I go from mirage to mirage,

Imagining an oasis in the parched landscape, dreaming

Of green trees with lush foliage, contemplating fields

Of red hibiscus flowers and golden wheat, envisioning

An abundant and inexhaustible source of water…

 

Green gardens beckon and I respond! I follow butterflies,

Fluttering my wings, going from one flower to the next,

Pleading for more sweet nectar… My dance is a rainbow:

Cherry, tangerine, lemon, emerald, sapphire, amethyst…

 

Birds beckon and I respond! I interpret the meaning of

Their chirpings, becoming their herald or their spokeswoman.

As their sweet songs reach my ears, I imagine what

They’re trying to say, what they’re wishing to convey…

 

The blue sky beckons and I respond! Flying like a bird

In the firmament, I flap my newly acquired wings among

The stars and the bright crescent, whether navigating

Up and down the clouds or riding on golden sunbeams!

 

The clouds beckon and I respond! “What do I see?

I see a ship, a camel, a rabbit and a duck; perhaps

I also see an elephant.” And I float in the sea of clouds,

Bathed in sunlight, and listening to the music of Angels…

 

The rain beckons and I respond! I remain covered

With droplets, unable to move in the stillness.

Of the humid weather, I savor the raindrops,

Quenching my thirst for the taste of Heaven.

 

The snow beckons and I respond! Mesmerized by a continuous

Flow of snowflakes descending from the sky above and

Covering the ground with a soft, immaculate carpet.

I tightly shut my eyes and my mouth to keep the cold,

Fine, white particles out of my freezing soul…

 

The sea beckons and I respond! I float endlessly,

On the crystal-clear surface, embracing the waves,

Pushed by the wind as I become salt and sea foam or

Even fish, shrimp and seashell, scattered on the shore…

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 34

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Dreamworld
 

Looking back into my Past, I detect

Two spheres, side by side:

One as dark as a nightmare,

Hosting unpleasant memories,

And the other like a golden cloud,

A Dreamworld that helped me survive.

I took refuge in the rosy sphere,

Ignoring the scary one, unaware

Of all that which Realworld held in store

For the innocent child I was.

I embraced songs and melodies,

Turning a deaf ear to the screaming

Monsters of my reality,

Allowing Happiness to reign,

Blessed with an artificial feeling of security.

Now that awareness has settled in,

I ponder about what lies ahead

While my prayers rise to the skies, crying,

Imploring, pleading, asking Heaven for guidance:

Will the future emulate Illusion or Reality?

Realworld or Dreamworld?

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 27

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Which is your favorite poem?

My favorite poem is “The House of God.”

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The House of God

 

The House of God is not a building!

The House of God is my heart: this is where I pray,

Where I meet with my Creator, where I express my gratitude

As well as my deepest convictions. This is where I examine

My most harrowing doubts. This is also where I seek advice,

Ask for forgiveness, and reconnect with my hereafter..

Yes! God lives in my heart, so I have to keep it pure and

Welcoming, hospitable, generous, and free of sin…

God lives in my heart, and this is how I can have

Uninterrupted conversations with Him!

I pray, and my prayers find their echo in my heart!

My fears find immediate comfort and reassurance…

How can God possibly be any closer?

I do not need to travel far away to find God!

I do not need to shout to reach Him! A whisper

Is sufficient! As I breathe, I communicate with Him!

He has filled my soul with a yearning for perfection!

Thanks to His presence in my heart, I radiate confidence

And peace of mind, no matter how great my problems are!

How wonderful it is to always be with Him!

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 23

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What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishments were completing my studies and obtaining my PhD from University of Pittsburgh, and of course writing my poems and publishing “Rainbow of Emotions”.

I plan to write a book of poetry about Pittsburgh soon; the poem “Oakland” is a sample of my unpublished collection.

My love for the sea which shaped by the Mediterranean Sea, on the shore of Alexandria,  inspired my PhD dissertation which featured the motif of the sea in romance literature. I remember having long conversations with the sea, as I was overwhelmed by its power and beauty. I show this in my poem “My Friend the Sea”.

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Oakland

 

From my window pane,

The lights of the Cathedral of Learning

And those of CMU’s Hammerschlag Hall

Glimmer in the darkness.

Buzzing with thoughts and ideas,

Minds are in a constant state of alert:

Discovering the meaning of life,

Linking the Past to the Future,

Defeating problems, hunting for solutions,

Building hope…

Eight years: seeking knowledge,

Establishing an emotional

And intellectual territory:

Making new friends,

Waving and smiling,

Enjoying moments of rare perfection!

Eight years, gone in a wink,

Holding cherished memories

Interlaced with bitterness!

Alas! The flight of Time…

2002 – Private Collection

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My Friend the Sea

 

On the Sea of my dreams, I endlessly float.

From the abyss to the sky, there is only one path;

The spirit soars, taking its flight to the stars…

Golden sunshine and blue crystal in motion;

The waves, carrying the imagination afloat,

Inspire, amaze, mesmerize with their charm:

A peaceful quiet accompanied

By the whisper of white noise,

A sweeping movement suggesting

The permanence of a lifetime,

Drowning my worries and my fears,

Providing relief and conveying hope.

The water, evaporating into clouds,

Rise to Heaven, carrying my soul

Connected to the soul of the Sea.

As I capture that exceptional momentum,

I radiate confidence and assurance

Since the powerful Sea is my friend.

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 57

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Do you write other genres beside poetry?

I like to write children’s stories as well as fairy tales. I have written a fairy tale many years ago, and I still enjoy reading it. I plan to publish it as well.

How was your writing affected by your illness?

Unfortunately, right after my graduation, I was diagnosed with the debilitating Parkinson’s Disease, which rapidly progressed, taking away my independence. I  later suffered from a crisis, which left me wheelchair-bound as well as home-bound. This disease consumed all my time and energy, and changed my life forever.  It was such a setback for my career and completely shattered my dreams. My writing was greatly affected by my illness, because I am not able to use my left hand anymore due to my tremor. I began express the experience of illness in many of my poems.  You can see most of them in my chapter, “The Crossroads of Time”. I have included the poems “Illness”and “Tremor” Below.

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Illness

 

Illness is definitely a drawback: it prevents you from

Progressing, from reaching your most important goals,

From achieving your objectives, from leading an active

And fulfilled life. It is a barrier between you and living!

Whether you like it or not, you play the part of a guinea

Pig who is given new medicine as an experiment or a test.

The cures for illness are either clearly ineffective or

Not available. Rather than restoring your health, drugs

Could damage your immune system if they interact negatively

With other drugs… Illness means spending your time

At the hospital, going from one doctor to the next,

From one pharmacy to the other… Illness means facing

Life with weaker weapons, with less audacity, less courage,

And, above all, with less hope for the Future,

With a less vivid smile, a more hesitant step,

A darker mood, and finally, with less love of life!

Illness interferes with accomplishing great deeds,

With enjoying life, and with being yourself at all times…

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 128

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Tremor

 

Trembling like a leaf in the breeze but without falling;

Trembling like a flag in the wind but without a country;

Trembling like a bird in the snow and without protection;

Trembling like a cat in winter while freezing and purring;

Trembling like a fish out of the water, unable to respire;

Trembling like a motherless child crying herself to sleep;

Trembling like a school kid who has just failed his exams;

Trembling like a fallen athlete who has lost his power;

Trembling like a country at war, brutalized by the occupier;

Trembling like anyone forced to leave his country of choice

And fearing the prospect of a tremendous culture shock;

Trembling like the Earth in the aftermath of an explosion;

Trembling like clouds frightened by a thunderstorm;

Trembling just like me, falling prey to tremor…

2007 – Rainbow of Emotion – page 129

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What motivated you to write Rainbow of Emotions… and how does it feel to have finally publish your first book after all these years?

Rainbow of Emotions captures bits and pieces of my life and my surroundings. Emotions of every shape and color form a rainbow which compose a multicolored globe. Sunshine, moonlight, and the dancing of the stars, all concur in shaping a rainbow representing all emotions. As for my feelings, they are summed up in the poem “Praise and Pride”.

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Praise and Pride

 

Praise can be a real picker-upper: when friends compliment

Me about my poetry, I feel truly happy; it’s like flying with joy!

I lose my identity and become one with my poems.

Each one represents a different aspect of my personality:

The sad ones,

The happy ones,

The inquisitive ones,

Those describing nature

As well as human feelings and behavior,

Those celebrating a particular event or a special day in my life

Those recounting a universal feeling or a personal experience.

They are all precious, linked to my soul, and

Like scattered pieces of a puzzle, they fit together to

Represent ME! Someday, I’ll publish my own book of Poetry,

And whenever someone praises it, I’ll be full of Pride!

2007 – Rainbow of emotions – page xiii
 

These excerpts are published here courtesy of the author and should not be reproduced without permission. For more information visit djehane-poetry.com