Arabic Poetry: Trajectories of Modernity and Tradition

recollected ways of speech and behavior operate so actively only because of the
need for self-deceit and wishful thinking as a defensive strategy against an
alienating reality abroad.

You see

We haven’t changed that much

Perhaps not at all

Our words are still

Strong, clear

the way we Bedouins talk

long embraces

asking after family and herds

laughing thunderously

the scent of old wood

stored in barns

still breathes from our clothes^89

In a self-congratulatory gesture and appeasing discourse, the persona gathers
pieces of evidence to convince the listener, perhaps his divided self, that all
is well with his Bedouin identity, as if the latter were a jumble of gestures,
attitudes, habits, and ways of speech.

you see

we haven’t changed that much

perhaps not at all

we still squat on the earth

wash lines still block

the doors to our houses

our children covered with dust

while in the evenings over mint tea

we exchange gossip

that refreshes

(Ibid.)

The underlying irony takes issue with a number of practices that are tribal to
the core, but they remain resilient as ways of life, nevertheless, even when
people have been in touch with other cultures and societies. Irony under-
mines a traditional poetics of vengeance, and invites the reader as listener to
participate in the effort to expose a discourse of double standards.

we still avenge our honor

our blood

has not changed to water

we live

THE TRADITION/MODERNITY NEXUS