Evidence by Diana Matar

Diana Matar Evidence Years ago Diana’s father-in-law Jaballa, a Libyan opposition leader, was kidnapped by the Egyptian secret service and handed over to the Gaddafi regime; he has been missing since.

Crafted as an homage to one man, this beautiful and very personal book shows the cruel effects of dictatorship on intimate relationships and family life.

E V I D E N C E

|

D I AN A

M AT AR

E V I D E N C E

|

D I AN A

M AT AR

For H , M and Z.

For H , M and Z.

|

9

|

9

Easter 2005.

Cairo.

This is a man’s house, even though your wife has lived here alone for the past 20 years. She has the custom of

rearranging the living and dining areas each few months, and every time I visit

the configuration is decidedly different.

Yet with each of these moves there

remains a chair, a place setting, ready for you at the head of the table.

Easter 2005.

Cairo.

This is a man’s house, even though your wife has lived here alone for the past 20 years. She has the custom of

rearranging the living and dining areas each few months, and every time I visit

the configuration is decidedly different.

Yet with each of these moves there

remains a chair, a place setting, ready for you at the head of the table.

|

13

|

13

|

15

|

15

16 |

|

17

16 |

|

17

I imagine you light and agile, always greeting the maid with respect.

I imagine men pausing in conversation,

waiting for you to speak, and your wife wanting to make things graceful for

you; your shirts ironed, your salads

well seasoned, your papers dusted but left undisturbed.

|

19

I imagine you light and agile, always greeting the maid with respect.

I imagine men pausing in conversation,

waiting for you to speak, and your wife wanting to make things graceful for

you; your shirts ironed, your salads

well seasoned, your papers dusted but left undisturbed.

|

19

|

21

|

21

October 2005.

Cairo.

I think I see the form of your foot

in the outline of my husband’s feet.

I know this slight detail of DNA must come from you because my husband and his brother have the same lean feet with a second toe longer than the

first. Their mother’s foot is wide with soft plump toes that descend, each one shorter than the one before.

October 2005.

Cairo.

I think I see the form of your foot

in the outline of my husband’s feet.

I know this slight detail of DNA must come from you because my husband and his brother have the same lean feet with a second toe longer than the

first. Their mother’s foot is wide with soft plump toes that descend, each one shorter than the one before.