His brother died on the same day, Poet Afif Ismail.. Defeating death with poetry

Sudan Events – Follow-ups

On Friday, the Sudanese Social Center in Sharjah witnessed a poetry night to inaugurate the poetry book (What We Learned from the Wings) by the poet and playwright Afifi Ismail, an evening of poetry and art with the participation of the artist Khaled Abdel Rahim. Before the start of the event, the death of the poet’s brother Afif Ismail coincided, but the latter insisted on holding the evening as his contribution to stop the war.

“It was an inspiring evening to resist death with poetry, a difficult evening in which we shared very contradictory feelings at the beginning, but it ended with an intimate ending that made us all feel that we were able to overcome our temporary helplessness and triumph for hope.” Rashid Mustafa Bakhit said.

Rashid tells the story:
“At about seven o’clock in the evening, while I was preparing to accept the invitation of my friend, the poet and playwright Afif Ismail, to attend the inauguration of his new collection of poetry (What We Learned from the Wings), I was struck by shocking news, which was that the war had claimed the soul of the poet Amer Ismail’s brother in the city of Hasahisa.” He said.
“Suddenly, I read the news in a WhatsApp group, and suddenly thousands of thoughts surrounded my mind… Oh my God, Afif Ismail knew? He is coming from a long tour between Havana, Doha, and Sharjah, and then he will go to Abu Dhabi. Oh my God, will the inauguration turn into a funeral? Oh my God, Afif then and there.” Can he come and we are supposed to go and offer condolences to him at his place of residence? Or should we go to the Sudanese Social and Cultural Club in Sharjah? Should we wait there to pray Al-Fatihah for his brother’s death and then return?… Too many thoughts surrounded the helpless mind due to the impact of the shock.” He added.
“I sent a message to Afif asking him: Will you come to the club or we will come to you? Our deepest condolences, comrade!” Afif quickly replied: I will come to the club and the evening will take place because this is my contribution to stopping the war, so that no one else dies after Amer Ismail. I asked Issam Abu Al-Qasim, Issam, I heard the news. Issam told me, “I am shocked, but come to the club.” We moved and I arrived and found a group of friends arriving in front of me. The attendance was heavy and he came normally on the basis that he would attend a poetry evening and listen to some of Khaled Abdel Rahim’s songs. We arrived to find Afif, Azhari Muhammad Ali, Musaab Al-Sawy, and Lamia Shamat ready for the evening, Khaled Abdul Rahim is carrying Odo and waiting, Afif is in an inner room receiving condolences, and the hall in another place is crowded with attendees!
We were afraid of Afif’s condolences, and we were very touched by his legendary steadfastness. We went out and walked to the second hall, read collective poetry, sympathized with the soul of Amer Ismail, sang with Khaled Abdel Rahim, and listened to my words about the collection, and we conquered death!
A strange and exceptional experience that suddenly changed our feelings from surrender and defeat to strength and laughter at death.” He added.
“At the end of the session, with our feelings overwhelmed by life, we held the Diwan with a group of attendees, and we all read in a collective voice one of the Diwan’s poems entitled Gezira, the date of its writing was December 22, 2023,” which says:
Tell our grandchildren about me
About our legends in the land of Gezira
Which was blossoming love
And singing
And long-staple white gold
but,
The armed pandemic has arrived!” He added.