Sania Saleh, also written Saniyah Saleh, (Arabic: ; 1939–1995) was a Syrian short story writer and poet. In her lifetime, she published three poetry collections and one volume of short stories in Arabic. Considered a notable author of modern Arabic poetry by fellow poets and literary critics, she was awarded distinctions by Arabic magazines and newspapers.
Several of her poems have been translated into English by Marilyn Hacker and Robin Moger and published in literary online magazines.
Biography Saleh was born in the city of Masyaf, in the Hama Governorate to Ismaili parents. In the 1950s, she met the writer and poet Muhammad al-Maghut at the house of the poet Adonis in Beirut. In the late 1960s, she married al-Maghut, while she was still a student at the college of literature of the University of Damascus. They had two daughters, named Sham and Salafa, for whom she wrote a poem that was translated as You Will Go Out of the Body’s Walls.
In 1985, Saleh died at a hospital in Paris after a long illness.
Works The Narrow Age (original title: al-Zaman al-Dayeq), (1964) Execution Ink, (original title: Hebr al-Idam), (1970) Dust (original title: al-Ghubar), (1982) Remembrance of Flowers (original title: Zikr al-Ward), (1988) Collected Poems
Poetry translated into English Autumn of Freedom Republished in Marilyn Hacker (ed.) Blazons: New and Selected Poems, 2000-2018
The Deluge (Original and translation) The War of Memory (Original and translation) You Will Go Out of the Body’s Walls (excerpts) The Sadnesses of the Sparrows The Wound and the Vision The Roots of the Winds Eyes of Grass Final Death The Condemned Lakes The Straits of Air
Awards Award for Best Modern Poem (The Sky’s Body) by An-Nahar newspaper (1961) Award for Short Stories by Hawaa magazine (1964) Award for Poetry by Al Hasnaa magazine (1967)
Reception The Egyptian poet Iman Mersal was under the impression that there were no modern Arab female poets for her – until she read Saleh's poems. In a 2016 interview, Mersal commented on Saleh's poetic style and imagery:
In 2023, Syrian poet Rasha Omran acknowledged Saleh's importance for Syrian women's poetry:
See also
Modern Arabic literature Syrian literature
References
External links
Essay by Iman Mersal on Saniya Salih in English