Written by This is the first in a series of poetic responses to photographs taken by Refugee Hosts PI Dr Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh during a field-trip to Baddawi refugee camp and the neighbourhood of Jebel al-Baddawi in North Lebanon, and to a range of neighbourhoods in Beirut in March-April 2018. Written by Refugee Hosts Writer-in-Residence Yousif M. Qasmiyeh and/or PI Dr Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, they reflect on everyday encounters in and dynamics of displacement.
Original graffiti:
“To every despicable Syrian, leave!”
Altered graffiti:
“To every despicable racist, leave!” (L)
“To every despicable (person), leave” (R)
Official eyes spot my lens
Erase my snaps
Of donation boxes
Attached to lampposts.
Yet the words were sprayed
Upon the walls
Neighbouring the sacred military post,
Under their permitting eyes.
**
Photograph: Graffiti on the facade of a building in Beirut © Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, April 2018.
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