tarek chemaly
three books
2009
\_Front page
\_Strata
read
\_getting the news
  from poems
\_Archewallogy
\_Jnune 7 – 2009
\_earlier writings
(2002/2003)
(| EN | FR |)
o-----////()/---[getting the news from poems]------(| Tarek Chemaly · 2009 |)------¬ contents
Exodus 2003

In living memory

Someone said “The memory joy is a memory of joy,
But the memory of sadness is sadness, my dear boy”
My own memory is a double-edged sword,
As I never forget any single word.

I remember every insult, every note of disdain,
And trying to hide their hurt is so much in vain,
Till now I still recall incidents that caused me pain,
And every white cloud is a living proof of the rain.

What I am looking for is an instant microwavable history,
A chip, an implant, or any other device to alter my memory,
But you know what? I think I am sticking to my own inventory,
Even if there is a defect in me, it is beyond the expiry of my warranty.

Well, too late now; they should have returned me to the factory.
32

Tarek Chemaly, “In living memory”, getting the news from poems (2009), p. 32.

Tarek Chemaly’s three books of 2009, published on 111101 with the author’s permission. getting the news from poems: layout Mike Awad. Archewallogy: design Farah Samman, cover Ashekman. Jnune 7 – 2009: with Rami El Khoury, Upstairs Publishing; photographs as credited on each page.