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Poet takes a
novel approach to history
Nadwah - Hong Kong
By P.
Ramakrishnan
Award-winning poet Sayed Gouda found the switch from Arabic to English much
easier than the recent challenge of moving from poetry to prose.
"I have lived
here in Hong Kong for the past 13 years and lost touch with the written Arabic
language," he says with a laugh.
After 20 years as a poet, and with works published in Egypt's respected literary
journal Akhbar Al-Adab, Gouda has released his first novel, Once Upon
a Time in Cairo.
A leading
figure in Hong Kong's literary community - he organises Arabic Nadwah, a
monthly reading of Arabic poetry at the Fringe Club - Gouda, 37, says the novel
reflects the way his work has changed since he arrived in Hong Kong in 1992.
"The first
writer who really opened the door for me to read English literature was Thomas
Hardy - it was Return of the Native," says the translator and accountant
for the Kuwait consulate. "I loved his style. I later discovered that he was
also a poet. I can see that he has chosen every word carefully. I see them as
poetic novels."
Set in 1948,
Once Upon a Time in Cairo follows three families living in one house. Each
family claims ownership of the property, and their animosity spreads across
generations. Gouda describes it as a parable of the Middle East.
"It's a symbolic novel," he says. "Each character resembles a country or a
leader in the Middle East. And each chapter deals with a certain period of our
modern history."
The novel
starts in 1948, when Israel took over Palestinian land. The other sections are
based in the historically important years of 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1981.
Gouda tears out a page from his notebook and draws diagrams. "The character
Galilah - she represents Israel itself," he says. "The master of the district is
El-King, the king. By that I mean Britain, the kingdom.
"In the old
times, there used to be a master for the street or the district itself - a
master who collects protection tax on people, a master who protects the family
who claims the room. This overseer was Britain at first. In time, like an old
lion who goes away, the El-King loses the power. The character of a sultan comes
in - a new master. That's America. All the names of the characters have more
than one meaning. In Arabic, all names mean more than what the syllables are."
Although the symbolism is clear, Gouda says the message of the book is kept
vague. "Before creating any sort of art - whether it's a poem, a novel, a
painting or a piece of music - should I have a message to convey to the reader?
"The answer in
my opinion is, `Not necessarily'. Even if there's a message, I shouldn't reveal
it," Gouda says. "I can only convey it wrapped in my work of art and leave it
to the reader to unfold it and understand it in any way he likes.
"To be neutral
is not an easy task, I have to admit, especially when I know that my countrymen
will read it. But as a writer, I must be unbiased.
"I don't expect
everyone to understand the story in exactly the same way as I do. It's almost
impossible. I wrote it as a novelist, not a historian. If the reader enjoys it
as a novel, I'm happy."
Once Upon a Time in Cairo
(Blacksmith) will be on sale this month for $98
Friday,
June 10, 2005
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