The Bread of Letters I Who will blame the trees when they loose their leaves? who will accuse the sea of abandoning shells on the sand? I, mother-woman, woman-mother with two breasts for pleasure and two breasts for maternity who give the milk of music tell stories explain games light up feelings and the grammar of thoughts I, woman of delight and tenderness virtuous and sinful mature and childlike with my mouth I feed the bread of letters consonants and vowels sentences, synonyms and comparisons. Who will accuse me of making a gift of my body to love? [ from “The Abduction” by Maram Al-Masri, Translated by Hélène Cardona] II The act of writing isn’t it a scandalous act in itself? To write is learning to know our most intimate thoughts Yes I am scandalous because I show my truth and my nakedness of woman Yes I am scandalous because I scream my sorrow and my hope my desire...