Foto cortesia di Mervat Al-Khuzai– Iraq
Vividi Ricordi di Mervat Al-Khuzai
Traduzione in inglese: Sahar Al-Ya’qub
Sono figlia di quell’epoca… l’epoca dei biglietti d’auguri di carta disegnati e ricamati con amore.
Appartengo all’epoca dei telefoni fissi, dove le sillabe tremavano e si intrecciavano con il tremore della terra, il ruggito del vento o il mormorio del fiume.
Dal tempo delle farfalle che migravano dalle Alpi per trovare riposo nei campi di mais bruno, all’ambra di Al-Mishkhab [1] e all’oro del Barhi [2].
Dal tempo dei sogni, ci legavamo ai tronchi delle palme, come amuleti sacri a guardia delle nostre stagioni del sonno. Dall’epoca del cinema… non intendo “Bianco e Nero”, ma piuttosto il mondo di Walt Disney e delle “Fiabe del Mondo” (Jack e il fagiolo magico, Biancaneve e i sette nani, I cigni selvatici, Peter Pan e così via…).
Appartengo all’epoca dell’amore cieco, quando i cuori potevano davvero vedere.
Dall’epoca degli aquiloni di carta che fungevano da “postini” per gli innamorati sui tetti vicini, e degli autobus rossi da quaranta passeggeri.
Sono figlia di luoghi… di Al-Sayadilah Street [3] ad Al-Ashar, delle cliniche popolari di Khamsa Mile [4] e del clamoroso Republic Market [5] con scorci dei suoi macellai egiziani.
Appartengo all’epoca della latta inglese “Macintosh” [6], che arrivava attraverso l’alto mare per riposare in mani tenere. Dall’era dei film imprigionati in nastri e dischi, e dei regali la cui essenza era: un libro, una penna stilografica o un tocco di “Soft”.
Note:
[1] Al-Mishkhab Amber (Ambra Al-Mishkhab): una varietà pregiata e altamente aromatica di riso iracheno coltivato nel distretto di Al-Mishkhab a Najaf. È rinomato per il suo profumo inconfondibile e per i chicchi lunghi e bianco perla.
[2] Al-Barhi (Al-Barhi): considerato uno dei datteri iracheni più pregiati e prestigiosi al mondo, spesso definito “oro” per il suo colore giallo brillante e la dolcezza simile al miele.
[3] Al-Sayadilah Street (Via dei Farmacisti): letteralmente “Via dei Farmacisti”, un famoso centro commerciale e medico situato nel distretto di Al-Ashar a Bassora.
[4] Khamsa Mile (Cinque Miglia): un noto quartiere popolare di Bassora; Il nome si traduce in “Cinque Miglia”, riferendosi alla distanza dal centro città.
[5] Republic Market: uno dei mercati tradizionali più antichi e vivaci di Bassora, noto per la sua atmosfera vivace e la varietà dei suoi commerci.
[6] Mackintosh (Macintosh): riferimento alle iconiche scatole di cioccolato “Quality Street” di Mackintosh, simbolo di lusso e regalo comune nelle famiglie irachene della classe media di quell’epoca.
Lettura letteraria in italiano a cura di Elisa Mascia -Italia
تذكاراتّ حية
ميرفت الخزاعي
ترجمة: سحر اليعقوب
أنا ابنةُ ذلك الزمن.. زمن بطاقات المعايدة الورقية التي كانت تُرسَم وتُطرَّزُ بالحب.
أنا من عهد الهواتف الأرضية؛ حيث كانت الحروف ترتجفُ وتتشابكُ مع ارتعاشة الأرض، أو زمجرة الريح، أو فوران النهر.
من زمن الفراشات المهاجرات من جبال الألب لتستريح في حقول الذرة السمراء، وعنبر المشخاب*، وذهب “البرحي”*
من زمن الأحلام التي كنا نصلبها على جذوع النخيل، كتمائم مقدسة تحرسُ مواسم نومنا.
من زمن الأفلام.. لا أقصدُ “الأبيضَ والأسود”، بل أفلام والت دزني
وقصص الشعوب العالمية: (جاك والفاصوليا، الاميرة والاقزام السبعة،
البجعة البرية، بيتر بان).
من زمن الحب الأعمى، حين كانت القلوب مبصرة.
من زمن الطيارات الورقية التي كانت “ساعي بريد” العشاق فوق سطوح الجيران، والباصات الحمر ذات الاربعين راكباً.
أنا ابنةُ الأمكنة.. من شارع الصيادلة في العشار*، وعيادات “خمسه ميل”* الشعبية،
ومن صخب سوق الجمهورية* بلقطات قصّابيه المصريين.
أنا من زمن علبة “الماكنتوش”* الإنكليزية، القادمة عبر عباب البحار لتستقر في أيادٍ غضة.
من زمن الأفلام المحبوسة في أشرطةٍ واقراص
ومن زمن الهدايا التي كانت قوامها: كتاب، أو قلم حبرٍ، أو لمسة “سوفت”.
الهوامش:
البرحي: أحد أجود أنواع التمور العراقية بالعالم.
عنبر المشخاب: نوع فاخر وعالي الجودة من الأرز الذي يُزرع في قضاء المشخاب بمحافظة النجف في العراق، ويُعرف برائحته العطرية المميزة ولونه الأبيض الناصع وحباته الطويلة، ويُعتبر من أفضل وأجود أنواع الأرز في العراق. الجمهورية، خمسه ميل، العشار: مناطق في البصرة.
Vivid Reminiscences
Mervat Al-Khuzai
Translation: Sahar Al-Ya’qub
I am a child of that era… the age of paper greeting cards that were sketched and embroidered with love.
I belong to the era of landline telephones, where syllables would tremble and intertwine with the quaking of the earth, the roar of the wind, or the surging of the river.
From the time of butterflies migrating from the Alps to find rest in fields of brown corn, the Amber of Al-Mishkhab [1], and the gold of the Barhi [2].
From the time of dreams, we used to tether to the trunks of palm trees, like sacred amulets guarding our seasons of sleep.
From the age of cinema… I do not mean “Black and White,” but rather the world of Walt Disney and the “World’s Folk Tales” (Jack and the Beanstalk, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Wild Swans, Peter Pan, and so on…).
I am of the time of blind love—back when hearts could truly see.
From the era of paper kites that served as “mailmen” for lovers over neighboring rooftops, and the forty-passenger red buses.
I am a daughter of places… of Al-Sayadilah Street [3] in Al-Ashar, the popular clinics of Khamsa Mile [4], and the clamorous Republic Market [5] with glimpses of its Egyptian butchers.
I am from the time of the English “Mackintosh” [6] tin, arriving across the high seas to rest in tender hands.
From the era of films imprisoned in tapes and discs, and of gifts whose essence was: a book, a fountain pen, or a touch of “Soft.”
Footnotes (الهوامش):
[1] Al-Mishkhab Amber (عنبر المشخاب): A premium, highly aromatic variety of Iraqi rice grown in the Al-Mishkhab district of Najaf. It is renowned for its distinct scent and long, pearly-white grains.
[2] Al-Barhi (البرحي): Considered one of the finest and most prestigious types of Iraqi dates in the world, often referred to as “gold” for its bright yellow color and honey-like sweetness.
[3] Al-Sayadilah Street (شارع الصيادلة): Literally “Pharmacists Street,” a famous commercial and medical hub located in the Al-Ashar district of Basra.
[4] Khamsa Mile (خمسة ميل): A well-known popular neighborhood in Basra; the name translates to “Five Mile,” referencing its distance from the city center.
[5] Republic Market (سوق الجمهورية): One of Basra’s oldest and most vibrant traditional markets, known for its bustling atmosphere and diverse trades.
[6] Mackintosh (ماكنتوش): Refers to the iconic “Quality Street” chocolate tins by Mackintosh, which were a symbol of luxury and a common gift in middle-class Iraqi households during that era.
Leggi anche 👇
https://alessandria.today/2026/01/15/un-racconto-che-arriva-dalliraq-dalla-scrittrice-mervat-al-khuzai-pubblicazione-di-elisa-mascia-italia/
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