We Never Left Egypt

Notes

This poem plays on, and argues with, the traditional telling of the Passover story. As our translator, Micha Meyers’s explained, the celebration of Passover, detailing the Jews escape from Egypt and freedom from slavery, is structured around answering four questions posed by the youngest child present at the seder. But whilst the festival aims to tell the story of freedom and emancipation, Hasan turns this on its head, claiming that one form of slavery has been swapped for another. The poem heckles God…

Edward Doegar