About whom does he write?

THE RIVER

Once
there was in our house a river
magnanimous
delicate steps
My father made his rosary from its minnows
and the carpet we spread was made from the mist
Once
a thief came to our house
He came from beyond the villages
and axes were landed on his neck
and split him in halves
Since then
My father’s heart dried up and he died
My sisters ended up in poverty and widowhood
But my mother insisted
on digging the earth
scratching with her fingers
believing water will appear.

- Hashim Shafiq

Hashim Shafiq was born and grew up in Iraq. He now lives in London. This voice also comes from Naomi Shihad Nye's collection.