Baghdad: The General Cultural Affairs House, under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, has announced the release of a new poetry collection titled “The Music of Living Statues” by renowned poet Fahmi Al-Saleh. This publication is part of the “Poetry” series and marks a significant contribution to the field of contemporary Iraqi literature.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the 248-page collection is presented in a medium format and features a cover crafted by artist Zakia Hussein. It includes 57 prose poems that utilize a dual artistic structure, merging extensive narrative passages with brief haiku-like bursts. This combination creates a distinct rhythm characterized by both expansion and interruption, contributing to the collection’s unique literary style.

The poetry in “The Music of Living Statues” delves into the depths of Iraqi memory, portraying it as a universal human condition that transcends geographical boundaries. Through its concise language and vivid poetic imagery, the collection endeavors to transform the aesthetic paradox of its title into a philosophical perspective. This perspective gives voice to inanimate stone, rhythm to silence, and presence to absence.

Serving as a poetic reflection on loss, the collection captures the essence of a homeland that has transformed into memory, with memory itself becoming a new homeland. “The Music of Living Statues” is a noteworthy addition to contemporary Iraqi poetry, offering readers a profound exploration of identity and existence.