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Amber Brooks
Prof. Seeger
ENGLA491-061
April 18th, 2021
Freedom: A Common Theme
A Word for Freedom by Latif Nazemi and My Freedom by Fadwa Tuqan both exhibit
great uses of figurative language while discussing the need and want for freedom. Both poets
have different nationalities and cultures but share a similar need for freedom due to the
oppression they suffered during their time. There are many uses of personification, and
alliteration in throughout these poems that give the reader a different understanding of the story
these two poets are trying to tell. Tuqan uses more alliteration throughout her poem that creates a
euphonous tone for the reader, even on a subject that is fairly sad and disheartening. Nazemi uses
personification several time throughout his poem that give the idea of freedom life and creates a
better understand for a reader who might not have experience in a world that lacks the freedom
he so desires.
Fadwa Tuqan was born in Palestine to one of the leading families who are responsible for
multiple noble members of the Palestinian worlds of education, literature, and politics (Amawi).
By 1952 Tuqan had grown to become one of the most influential poets of modern Palestinian
literature (Amawi). One of Tuqan’s most well-known topics is illustrating social conditions
faced by Palestinian women (Amawi). Tuqan’s behind the scenes involvement in politics gave
her a different outlook on the conditions of her people, especially in the area of freedom. She
wrote various poems pertaining to freedom, including The Freedom Fighter and the Land.”
Tuqan lived throughout various areas of Palestine’s history including the British mandate
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through Israeli occupation through limited autonomy (“Fadwa Tuqan”). Tuqan faced many
stereotypes and humiliations within her culture and chose to speak out against them (“Fadwa
Tuqan”). It is likely these were a notable motivation in Tuqan’s literary career as she used her
written voice to express her thoughts and desires.
Latif Nazemi was born in Afghanistan, where he graduated from Kabul University
(Faez). He has published several collections of poetry and is also known for being a literary critic
(Faez). Nazemi was forced to leave his homeland after the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan
(Faez). In December of 1797, the Soviet Union moved into the area of Kabul and took complete
control of the military and politics (Office of the Historian). This opened the door to what would
be a decade long attempt to “subdue the Afghan civil war and maintain a friendly and socialist
government on its border” (Office of the Historian). Being forced to leave his home and seeing
