Ashraf Fayadh, Palestinian poet & artist

Asylum by Ashraf Fayadh 


Asylum: To stand at the end of a queue. 

To be given a morsel of bread. 

To stand!: Something your grandfather used to do. 
Without knowing the reason why. 

The Morsel?: You. 

The homeland: A card to put in your wallet. 

Money: Papers that carry images of Leaders. 

The Photo: Your substitution pending your return. 

And the Return: A mythological creature … from 
your grandmother’s tales. 

End of the first lesson. 

- Ashraf Fayadh - 

from his book Instructions Within 
translated by Sultan Sooud al-Qassemi 

Ashraf Fayadh, born in 1980, is a Palestinian poet, artist, curator and member of British-Saudi art organisation Edge of Arabia. 
Ashraf lives in Saudi Arabia and was sentenced to death 
for his book 'Instructions Within'. 

Imprisoned Poet Ashraf Fayadh's 'Frida Kahlo's Mustache' 
© Arabic Literature (in English) 


Hard Stain by Ashraf Fayadh 

Mixed ink stained on medical gauze 

Image courtesy of Mostly Visible Exhibition 

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