Author: Joyce Bou Chacra
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A Visit To Bjerrin
Kamil had just arrived at Bjerrin, a 100-year-old abandoned village in the Jbeil district of Lebanon, nestled in a rugged valley surrounded by the majestic Mount Lebanon. An old local man named Jalal, who had agreed to help him discover Bjerrin and its ruins, was waiting at the entrance. After they greeted each other, they…
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Fifteen Years Later
Summer had just ended, and it was time to bring out my winter clothes. I had so much work to do – sorting out what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to donate, clearing the layers of accumulated dust, organizing the closets. I started by grabbing some coats, one of which I used…
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Belonging
What life shall I behold? What shall my world be? A long play where I wear a mask and hide my scars? A short tale that keeps me wondering through the quiet night? A sonnet that I recite freely? A melody that moves me till dawn? No, something more. A dream I’ve been longing to…
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Life in Lebanon: An Account on What I’ve Endured During the Past Five Years
Lebanon, a beautiful Mediterranean country, is cursed by an untold legend, one that manifests in confessionalism and corruption, but has haunted the country for centuries. Since its independence in 1943, Lebanon has known no rest: wars, crises, and ongoing local and regional conflicts. And to this day, nothing has changed. The surrealism we live in…
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Then, I Remembered Everything
Heavy thunders brewed outside the night a stranger called my dad asking for help. Mom and I were listening, terrified. Who could be calling now? He wanted help, he told my dad. A cat was stuck in his car engine, hiding. Horrible thoughts invaded my mind and I began to imagine the worst – he’s…
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Little Birds
Oh, little birds on the roof of my house! How lucky you are to fly away every day, To fly high in the distance Free of everything! I’m here in my chains, Staring at your wings, Asking – Can you sing my name? Can you hear my pain? Can you see me fading away? Losing…