Poet Joseph Gawrieh helping revive contemporary Syriac literature with trilingual poetry collection

BETH NAHRIN — In a significant contribution to contemporary Syriac literature, poet Joseph Gawrieh, originally from Beth Zalin (Qamishli) in Syria’s Gozarto (Jazira) region and now residing in the Netherlands, has published a new poetry collection titled Letters Beyond Borders in Syriac, Arabic, and English. 

The collection, released by Ramina Publications, a London-based multilingual publishing house, is presented in a unique format designed to engage a global audience. It includes the original Syriac text alongside Arabic-script transliteration with Arabic translation, as well as Latin-script transliteration accompanied by an English translation. This innovative structure seeks to bridge generational gaps within the Syriac-speaking diaspora, providing new learners and heritage speakers with an opportunity to reconnect with their cultural roots. 

Gawrieh described his work as a symbolic act of resistance against cultural erasure, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in the face of marginalization. “I am honored for this work to launch a series reviving Syriac as a living medium of literary expression,” he said, highlighting the resilience embodied in his poetry. 

Letters Beyond Borders is more than a collection of poetry, it serves as the cornerstone of a broader Syriac-language publishing initiative aimed at revitalizing the language as a creative and literary medium. Future projects under this initiative will feature original works by contemporary Syriac writers, translations from other languages, and new writings that explore themes such as language, identity, and exile. 

The publication has already been praised for its innovative approach and dedication to preserving and promoting Syriac cultural heritage, reaffirming the significance of the language as a vital component of literary and cultural expression.