Touchstone Awards

Mariangela Canzi — Touchstone Award for Individual Poems Winner 2024

Mariangela Canzi is the recipient of a Touchstone Award for Individual Poems for 2024 for the poem:

Ramadan sunset
sharing dates
in the ruins

     —Mariangela Canzi, folk ku, Issue 3, 2024

Commentary from the Panel: 

Ramadan — a Muslim observance of one month of fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, reflection, and community. At sunset, a feast breaks the fast each night. In this poem, however, dates are the only food available that is shared, and it is done so in the setting of ruins. It is the word “ruin” that identifies this haiku as taking place in wartime. It still refers to people during a celebration, but now the celebration is subdued. The sharing of dates, normally a part of fast-breaking, refers to food scarcity during a time of genocide, such as what’s currently happening in Gaza and elsewhere. It leads us to wonder about the meaning of hunger in the difference between a tradition of holiday fasting and a forced situation of starvation.

Dates, too, can have a secondary meaning, as milestones of specific events. The people “sharing dates” in these ruins can also be commemorating significant moments when that building was bombed, when a home was lost, or when loved ones died. The idea of “sunset” even plays a double role, not just as the beginning of the evening festivities, but also as the ending of one more tragic day, and the metaphorical denouement of yet another battle and the lives associated with it.

Structurally, the longest line is the first, offering a hopeful holding on to the most positive aspects of this haiku; we want to linger in this tranquil scene of the celebratory feast that marks the end of each Ramadan day. The next line offers us the promise of the sweetness of dates, which remains in the mind and on the tongue until the devastating last line: in the ruins. Suddenly, that sweet taste turns to ashes as we picture the horrors that happened, despite what is supposed to be a time of gentle reflection and holiday festivities. We are left with ruins, and the bitter feeling of a time of joy subverted into the reality of suffering.

Nevertheless, hope prevails and the principles of Ramadan prevail: not only do we have community (sharing implies people coming together), but also hints of prayer (for those lost in the ruins), reflection (on watching the sunset itself and discussing dates of significance), and the breaking of the fast with what little remains: the sweet taste of dates and the hope of a better tomorrow. This subdued haiku carries a powerful impact.

 

Touchstone winners receive a crystal award to commemorate their selection. See the complete list of winners of both Individual Poem Awards and Distinguished Books Awards in the Touchstone Archives.

Comments (21)

  3. Many congratulations, Mariangela – a powerful poem and well-deserved winner. The commentary eloquently underlines the many layers expressed in those few words.

    1. I’m humbled, Annie! Always grateful for your wonderful feedback and constant support.

  4. A wonderful haiku. I have a Muslim friend who always shares walnut stuffed dates with her friends at the conclusion of Ramadan. The juxtaposition of the sweet dates with the dilapidated structures is a strong one, which expresses sadness and yet the hope for a new day.

    1. Many thanks for your fabulous feedback, Terri. So happy this struck a chord with you! It means a lot to me.

  5. I am very touched by this wonderful commentary from the panel. It is exactly what I wanted to express with my poem. My deepest thanks to Gregory Longenecker, Marianne Paul, Agnes Eva Savich, Dan Schwerin, and Mary Stevens for choosing my poem and for their poignant words.
    I know my work could be a divisive subject within the haiku community, but I only hope that peace may prevail. I still hope the two people – two state solution will be paramount one day.
    My poem is also dedicated to all the victims, Palestinians and Israelis. It means that love could break through the war.
    Thank you so much for this great honour and many thanks to Robin Smith and THF.

    2. Congratulations Mariangela!! I love both the haiku and the comments that it elicited from the panel.
      I am also touched by your honest comments and dedication to the victims of war. May we always strive to spread love and peace.

      1. I too am touched by your wonderful words, Paul. Thank you so much for your constant support. I do agree with you. May peace prevail one day!

  6. Congratulations to Mariangela Canzi for this poignant poem. Even during relentless bombing that has decimated the entire Gaza strip, the sun still sets every night, and the Palestinian people still follow the Ramadan tradition of breaking the daily fast at iftar, by eating a date to begin the evening meal. Among ruins, the close community of Palestinian families come together in solidarity with one another–even when the world abandons them. Mariangela Canzi had the courage to write this call to action, and the Touchstone committee came through by not looking away, like most mainstream media, but by recognizing the present day, real time, atrocity happening now. Thank you for calling it a genocide, Robin Smith. Every voice makes a difference. May there be peace soon, Inshallah.

    1. I would like to thank you very much for your wonderful and kind words. I’m honoured and so happy to see that my poem struck a chord with you. Thanks a lot for taking the time to read and comment on my work.

    2. Hi John,

      Thank you for sharing your comments.

      I just wanted to clarify that I only created the post — the panelists wrote the commentary.

      Thanks again!
      Robin

    3. John, thanks for sharing your thoughts on Mariangela’s powerful poem. The additional context you provide highlights how much more significant “Ramadan sunset” is. Yes, may peace prevail in the region soon. May the chorus on behalf of peace grow louder and wider. God willing.

      Once more, huge congratulations to Mariangela for the recognition.

      1. Thank you so much for your gorgeous feedback and support, Archie. It’s really means a lot to me. I’m honoured this poem struck a chord with you and with some people within the haiku community.

    1. Dear Alan, I’m really touched by your words. I feel so honoured and thank you very much for your kindness and for the tips you have given me on LI and FB. I didn’t know much about haiku and I’ll always be grateful for your suggestions and advice.

Comments are closed.

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