When a heart waits in the window, a heart that flashes brighter than the moon… A reading of the collection “Prayers of Trees” by the poet Samia Ibrahim

Avin Alo

“Prayers of Trees” is the new poetry collection by the Syrian Kurdish poet Samia Ibrahim, which was published by the Rojavayi Kurdistan Intellectuals Union.

The collection is characterized by a rich and beautiful poetic language, as the poet uses images and similes effectively to create vivid scenes that pulsate with deep human feelings, especially those related to the poet’s soul, heart, and conscience.

In this collection, we find that the poet expresses her feelings honestly and transparently, using her rich imagination and luminous humanity. Through her poems, Samia Ibrahim conveys to us painful images that reflect harsh life experiences. The poet highlights daily details full of nostalgia, pain, and love.

By reading the collection “Prayers of Trees,” it can be observed how the poet expresses her deep feelings about the loss of people or things dear to her. She is well aware that these things will not return, and this loss is reflected in her poetic style, which is characterized by sadness and deep contemplation.
She says in one of the poems:

“When the old tree cries
To the sound of the wind
and her moans
The hidden, drunken sadness awakens
Sleeping in the bundles of days woven by mothers’ hands
he extends his arms into the ribs
so lightly and discreetly
like the wind itself
above the divisions
to be clothed with the sharing of loss
And the bitter corners of time
thus
When the old tree cries, mother.”

A strong sense of connection is evident between the poet and the trees she describes, as if they were humans with whom she shared her life and sorrows. These trees represent people the poet has lost, or perhaps those she hopes to meet.

Samia Ibrahim’s language is smooth and sweet, as she uses simple words to convey deep and complex feelings. Through her metaphors and poetic images, the poet succeeds in adding depth and additional meaning to the poetic scene, which ignites in the reader a desire to return to past memories, places, and times.

“Prayers of the Trees” is a collection of poetry brimming with life, nostalgia, and love. It is a journey through the poet’s feelings and experiences, as she takes the reader with her to join in her prayers for trees, hope, love, and waiting.

This collection represents a valuable addition to Syrian poetic literature, and reflects the poet’s ability to transform deep human feelings into expressive poetic images that leave an impact on the reader’s soul and provide him with a space for contemplation.