GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — “I have no thirst above my forehead ... No love under my skin ... My waist is not snapping ... Nor has the cactus raised itself to my face ... I am on a horse of lust ... Combing the hair of freedom ... The gypsy girl is dancing and inspiring the world”

The poet Hind Jawdah started reading her poems during poetry evenings in Gaza City amid heavy attendance. It was standing room only after all seats in the small area at the French Cultural Center had been taken.

Despite the popularity of poetry in Gaza, few official bodies sponsor poetic talent. Jawdah recently presented her manuscript to one of the initiatives that publish literary work in the hopes of having her first book published soon. Her book is titled Someone Always Leaves.

Al-Monitor met Jawdah, 29, at the Rainbow Children’s Club where she sat and cared for her son, Saif, and daughter, Siham. She read some poetry and told of her experience, “I returned to Gaza from Saudi Arabia after a long absence from the literary scene. As soon as I arrived, I participated in four poetry evenings and attended six others. There is war here, but poetry is still popular despite the lack of funding for cultural events.”