Holier Than Life

By Fauzia Rafique

In Holier Than Life, Fauzia Rafique presents English poems written in three languages, to blend the voices of self in a full and unified presentation. From soft intimacies to polemic, from private indignities to those that are the shared burden of at least half the planet, the poet gives voice to self in a wide sweep of style and metaphor, revelation and critique, visiting a kaleidoscope of concerns and blending literary values that, ultimately, express a single flame of being. Intelligence, embodiment, engagement: these are the aspects of woman that surge to the fore and fall back again, as poem by poem, the author moves us through the vastness of the world.

- Joanne Arnott, author of Wiles of Girlhood and Mother Time

Fauzia Rafique’s poetry collection ‘Holier Than Life’ speaks to the world about the state of human conditions and current global upheaval. Her lyrical style weaves the reader’s imagination into a perceptive web of bittersweet memories of love and of power-orchestrated political murders. Once entangled in the web of Rafique’s profound and well crafted poetics her writing provokes a burning passion to rise and speak up. Fauzia Rafique's writing is powerful, insightful and revolutionary.

A must read!

- Valerie B-Taylor, President New West Writers, FBCW NW Area Rep, Advisor Surrey Muse, Founder Renaissance Book Writers

• Language: English
• Publisher: Purple Poppy Press
• Release date: Jun 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301747757

Fauzia Rafique

A South Asian Canadian writer of fiction and poetry, Fauzia Rafique was recognized in 2012 by a peer group as ‘Distinguished Poet & Novelist’ for her first novel ‘Skeena’ (Libros Libertad 2011, Uddari Book 2011, Sanjh Publications 2007) and her first chapbook of English and Punjabi poems ‘Passion Fruit/Tahnget Phal’ (Uddari Books 2011). Earlier, she edited an anthology of writings of women of South Asian origin, ‘Aurat durbar: The Court of Women’ (Toronto 1995). In Pakistan, Fauzia worked as a journalist and a screenwriter. Through her creative writings, blogging and community development work Fauzia supports author rights, secularism, freedom of expression and equality. In 2013, she declined Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal to protest against Canadian Government and British Monarchy for refusing to meet hunger-striking Native Canadian leaders. Fauzia publishes blogs on Punjabi literature, blasphemy and honour killings. She writes in English, Punjabi and Urdu. Fauzia is working on her second novel ‘Triple’ for publication later in 2013. Her first collection of Punjabi poems will be published from Pakistan in 2014. An ebook of her English poems ‘Holier Than Life’ is being launched in June 2013. For more, visit Fauzia’s online profile gandholi.wordpress.com Facebook facebook.com/fauzia.zohra.rafique novelskeena.wordpress.com Email [e-mail]

Book preview

�E[�cbook_preview_excerpt.htmluVm�G�����Q �ڪ�
�݂�����3�{�'�a����r����{l�.��xZR?==I������ g7��Wf-gW~+a�a�W��`5<�X���/V2^\�iL?$Z��/��s5�怤
I�l��͞�q�h�~��3��ƚ8HG0y��d���iŸ 1'�9;�xp��_���������ig��n
T��(��'9�L$i��l5�h��}4I�ޱ%q�~��;�_҉��{r>Q#�,z��{�G��a��� �#�%�Xkt��[k6�&q���[��L���Sq,���A�6w5C�l�M�.�Ӛ����ϟ� ��;�����uԙ�$q�l�B�0�v�::�'�P�X ���I98��K���E�J�s��(gSh���$m�8�@M�†�����e|q}��1��������ѣ���H�{�Zx|Po=j.�!��ys0xǮ����˫C���L�1�ò����O˖O/-E��t��끇���k>��}kn�����W��j0)l8�F~z�U{"���N����ӓ;sz�x/�Ľ��J'T¢��Z����V���l-ZD�o����o�Dv0��`�r�7{�8%M{6*zU ��яRK�{#W�Ū�ޱ�`�.�nxo��I�l37(��.�6�)��q ~[b羗�!₮�1�d�!���`4����_�dUR#E�;) 9$��h����GWj������AS���Q�L�Δ=5}����-N�/���Z�����L�.��н�� B�]��������o=�cTzP��ڃ�lmI.;�6� �%�D/�Y�r�_'X'3rkD傛���]�Z �`��0s\�t��u"b��(uHbe��
1��L�Nˆ��n_�⠡T&q��˜=bߙw"S�)���TFI<��C[�%�rI%erA[�b�6���|�+�m�k%�X< yjgM��a_D��!�e��$� *Mu�Q���-�nh/0����a>6�3*<����ǚ�/.c��l���͘C/�aQ�ִ׌R6�b!�l�h���]��[)���Ԭ���� �p������-��T�/=;'��X)�>���{c��~5��w�����A��1�k�c�� d���c�:����3�96�l�&�)���S_R�ᐕJ�n�Z�}���� vq�0SP�%=�u�,-�V��pR4P����J荫jC�x(
k��)A��i��W��6A����fQ�ϓ����c�b�`�J ��$���