Skip to main content

Theme: Trauma as an Exit to New Language

Editorial

Trauma as an Exit to New Language

Inga Gaile is the editor for this issue of PEN/Opp. She is a poet, author, and the president of PEN Latvia. The common theme in this issue is how trauma influences the arts and how trauma can be...

Text: Inga Gaile October 05 2023
Article

What do trains and toilets have in common?

Baiba Baikovska is a Latvian stand-up comedian and writer. She works with people with disabilities through the organisation Agape Latvia and is a guest lecturer on disability issues.

Text: Baiba Baikovska November 16 2023
Article

Sarma and the Slut List

Inga Gaile is poet, author of seven poetry collections and fiction writer: five novels and one collection of short stories. She is president of PEN Latvia and organizer of women stand up group in Riga...

Text: Inga Gaile November 09 2023
Poetry

Poems by Ivars Šteinbergs

Ivars Šteinbergs is a poet, critic, and translator from Riga, Latvia. His second collection of poems Jaunība (Youth, 2022), published by Neputns, received the Annual Latvian Literature Award in 2023...

Ivars Šteinbergs November 02 2023
Fiction

Temple

Ilmārs Šlāpins is a philosopher, publicist, editor, world music DJ and writer. He has published ten books, including translations, non-fiction and poetry. Temple is an excerpt from an upcoming novel.

Text: Ilmārs Šlāpins October 19 2023
Article

A fight I might never win

Katrīna Rudzīte is a poet. She has published two poetry collections: Saulesizplūdums (Blur of the Sun) and Ērti pārnēsājami spārni (Comfortably Portable Wings, 2020). She writes essays and articles...

Text: Katrīna Rudzīte October 12 2023
Article

Succès de scandale

Santa Remere is a translator and publicist. She regularly writes literary and art critics for local magazines, mostly with a focus on cultures of young audiences and feminist topics. Occasionally, she...

Text: Santa Remere October 05 2023
Poetry

Three poems by Alesya Loseva

Aļesja Loseva is an author of Belarusian origin who was born in Latvia. The influence and temperament of the Latvian, Belarusian and Russian languages are intertwined in her poetic voice. In public...

Text: Aļesja Loseva October 05 2023

Theme: Despair breeds hope

Article

Fathy Ghabin: Inevitable Binaries

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will – Gramsci One of the central issues in radical thought aimed at...

Text: Hashem Helles May 26 2023
Article

The bridge between poetry and children's literature.

Fatena al-Jamal, born in Ramallah, is a writer who specializes in cultural affairs. She works at the Tamer Institute for Community Education, and writes poetry and articles. She is published in...

Text: Fatena al-Jamal May 26 2023
Article

Before you believe everything they say about hope.

Almutasim Khalaf is a Palestinian-Syrian writer who lives in Lebanon, and the author of A Little Closer than Far. He writes articles and is trained in the field of creative writing.

Text: Almutasim Khalaf May 26 2023
Article

Hope: As part of the remaining ammunition

Whenever I find myself pondering meanings, I am confronted with the false dichotomy of hidden versus overt, as if we are...

Text: ​​​​​​​Donia Ismail May 26 2023
Poetry

Poems by Anis Ghuneimah

These two poems are from the poetry collection The Funeral of a Magician by Anis Ghuneimah, winner of the first prize in the Young Writer of the Year 2017 competition, launched by the A.M. Qattan...

By Anis Ghuneimah May 24 2023
Poetry

Poems by Hala Shrouf

Hala Shrouf is a Palestinian writer based in Ramallah. She was born in Libya in 1978, and has lived between Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. She moved to Palestine in 1995. Shrouf studied English...

By Hala Shrouf May 24 2023
Poetry

Poems by al-Zaqzouq

Guest editor Muhammad al-Zaqzouq contributes with two poems from the poetry collection The All-Knowing Betrayed Me. He is the winner of the Ali Khalili Prize for Poetry, within the Palestine Cultural...

By Muhammad al-Zaqzouq May 23 2023
Poetry

Poems by Hamed Ashour

By the young poet Hamed Ashour (born 1994), we publish the poems Open Heart and Simple Things from the poetry collection A Surgeon Experimenting on himself. Ashour was born in Gaza in 1994. He...

By Hamed Ashour May 23 2023
Poetry

Hell and Quorum of the Dead  by Ameer Hamad

From the poetry collection I Looked for their Keys in the Locks by Ameer Hamad, first prize winner in the 2019 Young Writer Competition. Hamad was born in Jerusalem in 1992, and currently resides...

Poems by Ameer Hamad May 23 2023
Poetry

Poems by Nidal Al-Faqaawi

Two poems are selected for this issue number from the poetry collection Noon Poems in the Cobbler's Cart by Nidal Al-Faqaawi, winner of the first prize in the Young Writer of the Year 2015 competition...

Poems: Nidal Al-Faqaawi May 23 2023
Fiction

Letters to Oraib

These letters are an attempt to describe everyday life in the Gaza Strip, and it is also an attempt to recover from despair. The letters were written between 2021-2022. From his isolation, the poet...

Letters by Mahmud Al-Shaer May 10 2023
Poetry

Poems by Hind Joudeh

These two poems are from the poetry collection Nobody Always Leaves by Hind Joudeh, a Palestinian poet living in Gaza. Joudah was born in 1983 in al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. She writes poetry and...

Poems: Hind Joudeh May 10 2023

Like what you read?

Take action for freedom of expression and donate to PEN/Opp. Our work depends upon funding and donors. Every contribution, big or small, is valuable for us.

Donate on Patreon
More ways to get involved

Menu

Search