Have You Heard the Story of the Forest?

Hanadi Zarka  |  Creative and Critical Writings  |  2026  |  Syria
This collection of texts humanizes elements of nature, including trees, animals and plants, with the tree as a central protagonist. The poet imagines the tree as a human being, giving it the full range of emotions that preoccupy the human psyche —disappointment, love, longing — as well as the tragedies that befall humans, whether war, migration, displacement, or death. The tree is not simply a tree; it is a vessel for the poet’s own fears and concerns, ultimately serving as a mirror of the human psyche.