Hostages of Memory Ali Zalah of clay soil and carved

of clay soil and carved its crumbling bed

this rare tarot deck

while others live with debts of a shameful past

translated into English by the poet and translator Sara Elkamel

Hostages of Memory Ali Zalah of clay soil and carvedIn the Syrian Turkish borderlands, Khatoune searches for a home for their family. As her sons Alo and Ahme attempt to build a life for themselves, they know little about the secrets that weigh down their family history, or the troubles that the future has in store for them. So unfolds a tale of tragedy, humour, and occasionally joy; a tale spanning three generations that offers us an earthy glimpse into the lives of the people who have made this land