‘Zaqtan is certainly a master of his art, one who is able to be a mythmaker and a witness at the same time, which is rare among poets [. . .] A word-artist of the first order.’—Ilya Kaminsky, author of Dancing in Odessa
‘What does poetry do? Nothing and everything, like air, water, soil, like birds, fish, trees, like love, spirit, our daily words . . . It lives with us, in and outside us, everywhere, all the time, and yet, we are too often oblivious of this gift. It’s a poet’s job to bring this gift out and back, this gift that makes us human again. And Mr. Zaqtan has done it. His poetry awakens the spirits buried deep in the garden, in our hearts, in the past, present and future.’—Judges’ citation, Griffin Poetry Prize
Praise for Where the Bird Disappeared:
‘Zaqtan’s narrative is lyrical, heartbreaking and profound. Rooted in Palestine—a land that stood the test of time and would go on to become the hub of early and modern civilizations—the story is captivating enough to transport us to the hideaway monastery in Nuba Karam or the vineyards of Beit Jalla, the new homes for several villagers forced into exile.’—Arab News