Prologue about the poet Souzan Aoun
Souzan Aoun, born in Lebanon’s capital city
“Beirut”. I was raised in an understanding family that had an immense appreciation
for traditions, culture.
When the first war started in Lebanon, I
travelled with my family to The United Arab Emirates that's when I'm 7 years
old and I stayed there until I finished my high school.
I began my first attempts at drawing and writing
at the age of thirteen years old, where I also wrote my first ever novel that
was titled under “Migration to you”.
It was followed by another stories.
One of them I called “It slipped my mind”, it
encompassed a scenario that I’d hoped I’d actually continue and develop into a
movie or a series.
Through drawing, writing and poetry, I was able
to express my artistic side that allowed me to convey and reveal all of my
thoughts and feelings and transform them into words that could reach an
audience who can actually relate to my life and the painful struggles that I
went through.
These stories paved the way and grabbed the
attention of individuals who found closure, peace and solace through my words.
I gravitated towards writing plays as I filled
my schoolbooks within, which I also received encouragement and motivation from
my school teachers, especially my Arabic teacher who believed in my talent. I
was given the role of the “Al-Khansaa” who was a 7th century famous Arabic poet
to perform as a play.
I excelled in playing the role of the
“Al-Khansaa” in which I received a great admiration from the audience and in
which I also realized my passion towards acting, poetry and overall the Arabic
literature and its symbols.
As a poet, I am attracted to beautiful and
meaningful words and because of my sensitive and tender nature; I am also hurt
by painful words. I am captured by words and this is how I describe myself.
I was interested and talented in writing short
stories for children, as I used to always read stories from my imagination for
my own children before they’d fall asleep.
I used to focus in these stories on
including valuable life lessons but in a simplistic manner in order to attract
their attention and to also teach them certain things that I’d consider
important without resorting to punishing them or other methods that I believe
are inappropriate for raising a child.
I was also inclined to Arabic teachings in
order to be more aware about my own Language and to be confident about any
questions that may arise in the future regarding to my writing in which I
attained two degrees with excellence.
Everything that I’ve achieved so far were the
milestones into building the person I am today as it helped and assisted me
with developing my own personality and also with building the structure and
foundation of a person that I’m ultimately proud of.
I worked as a principal, supervisor, and an Arabic
teacher in Lebanon. I left Lebanon again after the several wars that had
completely destroyed every last hope and every last chance of starting new. I
migrated into Australia, the country that welcomed my Five children and I into
open arms, and that has assisted me into building a new and a promising future
as I had left every painful memory behind.
From the second I landed in Australia, I did
not give up nor did I sit at home. I taught myself everything and I tackled
every opportunity and chance that came my way. I attained and achieved numerous
academic certificates in business, accounting, sciences and health and as well
as the English language.
I was always taking part in the community, as I
would attend as many events as I could in order to reach out and connect with
people that share the same appreciation for Art and poetry.
My migration to Australia played a significant
and undeniable important role in paving the way for my writing journey as it
opened many closed doors and opportunities and made me believe in myself once
again and bringing back fond memories to the time when I was thirteen years
old.
My first publication was a series of poems,
that I titled under “Migrating to you, remember me” and which I considered
extraordinary and I remain extremely proud of. My second publication was also a
series of poems titled “Leila till my last breath” from Dar Aaref publications
in Lebanon and under the supervision of Al-Mothaqaf association in Australia,
in which my introduction was written by Doctor Racha Ghanem, who is a
literature professor at the American University of Cairo.
I view my book “Leila till my last breath” as a
valuable and precious gift that I hold close to my heart and a true description
of my life as it contains my experience and journey as a woman who challenged
the world and every hardship in order to express her voice regardless of the
situation.
I
challenged everyone to break down the constricting stereotypes of women in the
Arab world and in order to build a new foundation in my life, the life that I
finally have control over.
Nonetheless, I’m currently representing the
board of the Overseas Arabic Alliance for Creativity as an ambassador in
Australia. As well as running for an ambassador for both Hawass association and
the Arab women Union in Australia.
Furthermore, on behalf of the associations that
I’m involved in, as a result, I have attained and received numerous
appreciation awards that I’m absolutely proud of such as the excellence award
from the Overseas Arabic Alliance for Creativity.
On 22/05/2015, I received an appreciation
certificate and trophy upon my visit to my home country Lebanon during the
signing of my second book “Leila till my last breath” in an astonishing event
at the Unesco palace in Beirut that was sponsored and held by Hawas association
and directed by the well-known journalist Abdel-Halim Hammoud.
I was awarded a certificate from Al Bayati
league for poetry and culture. Moreover, I was fortunate enough to attain first
place in a poetry competition that was held in India in which I received an
award from the Home of the Arabic Literature Association.
I’ve also received an award for my involvement
in a poetic competition from the office of the religious authority, his
eminence, Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah (ra).
Additionally, I was also awarded during a great
event, which was held in Sydney that involved numerous amounts of famous and
well-known poets, professors as well as authors from both the Lebanese and
Iraqi embassies in Australia.
I currently publish my poems and publications
in some local newspapers in Australia as well as several electronic websites.
My
publications can also be found on my main blog “Migrating to you, remember me”.
Embarking on this life-changing journey has
given me the willpower to wake up each day with a great attitude towards life
and with a purpose, a purpose to change the world or at least make a difference
through breaking down stereotypes, reaching out to people that connect to my
life struggles by using my words and meeting new people along the way all
through one step at a time.
I’m forever grateful for the people who helped
make my dreams a reality and for the people who stuck beside me through thick
and thin as well as for you reading this right now, I truly thank you all with
all of my heart.
Most importantly I am eternally grateful for
God, who without His mercy I am nothing.
Souzan Aoun
