As if hiding from the mirror before it: The poetics of the margin and beauties of fracture
The poetry collection "As if hiding from the mirror before it" by Jordanian poet Marwan Batoush reflects on personal and societal fractures over 14 years, focusing on intimate struggles rather than political themes.
Marwan Batoush's poetry collection, titled "As if hiding from the mirror before it," serves as a crucial marker in the author's literary journey spanning from 2011 to 2025. This extensive timeline is essential to understanding the overarching literary project, as Batoush writes poetry not as standalone events but as a cumulative existential experience, reflecting on a lived time filled with various fractures. The collection embodies a deep sense of introspection and personal history rather than a fleeting artistic expression.
Belonging to a young Jordanian poetic generation that has witnessed profound political and social transformations in the Arab region, Batoush's work, however, does not engage directly with political or collective issues. Instead, it occupies a more intimate space, delving into individual crises, fractured family dynamics, and failed relationships. The poetry reveals the burdens of a weary body and a heart weighed down by the accumulation of small disappointments, marking the intimacy of personal experience as paramount in Batoush's literary voice.
This work is representative of poetry written from the "margin," encompassing not just geographical marginality (the southern region of Jordan) or socio-economic constraints (poverty, need) but also an existential margin, reflecting a profound sense of inability to participate effectively in life. Through this lens, Batoush explores these intricate dimensions, inviting readers to connect with the deeper nuances of personal and collective human experience. The collection is published by Dar Murjan and symbolizes a reflective journey through the layers of identity, struggle, and resilience in the face of adversity.