Hope

A common thread within the Poems From Guantanamo- The Detainees Speak seems to be this ever hopefulness for redemption and release from oppression and exile. According to Forms of Suffering in Muslim Prison Poetry, Flagg Miller states that "an old Arabic saying goes...poetry is born of suffering" (Falkoff 7). Arabic poetry comes from a long line of oppression, poetry being the voice of oppression. The poets in this book speak of a similar exile/oppression common within their history of poetry, and express a glint of hope in the publication of this book in obtaining freedom.

The author Jumah Al Dossari has been held in Guantanamo for half a decade, attempting suicide nearly a dozen times. His poem entitled "Death Poem" doesn't display hope for his existence and possible release from prison, but hope that his dead body will be used to present to the world "this soul that has suffered at the hands of the "protectors of peace" (Falkoff 32). He proclaims the displaying of his tortured soul to "the people of conscience" (Falkoff 32).

Another poem by poet Emad Abdullah Hassan is still held in captivity even though there isn't any clear proof or suspicion that he did anything wrong. The attraction in this poem is the allurment in the first stanza, which begins as
"Inscribe your letters in laurel trees
From the cave all the way to the city of the chosen.

It was here that Destiny stood wondering.
Oh Night, are these lights that I see real" (Hassan Ln. 1-4)?

Hassan proclaims oppression, but hope in his devout religion that the "youths" Mohammed have suffered but their endurance is a test of belief in God that keeps them from faltering in these extreme conditions. The lines above describe light which is obviously symbolic of goodness, whereas, dark is evil. Similar to Jumah Al Dossari's poem, Hassan also shares hope in the publication of this book, such as "My song will expose the damned oppression,/ And bring the system collapse" (Hassan Ln. 15-16).